AIFF hints at possibility of friendlies against West Asian countries

SWAFF Vice-President Subrata Dutta also revealed the President of the body will be visiting India to finalize it.

The future schedule for the Indian National Football Team seems to be in much brighter hands after All India Football Federation (AIFF) senior vice president Subrata Dutta, who was recently elected the vice president of the South West Asian Football Federation(SWAFF), indicated that the Blue Tigers will face more West Asian countries in friendly matches from now on.

A day after being elected in this prestigious role during the SWAFF's general assembly in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Dutta gave some positive news for the Indian Footballing front as he spoke to IANS and said, "Now India shall have the opportunity to play against teams from West Asia which will help us improve our ranking. I believe SWAFF will surely help India to develop,"

"AIFF shall support SWAFF to fulfil its objectives. We shall also give our best efforts for the achievement of SWAFF's mission and vision." he further added. Dutta was elected for a four-year term during the polls of the footballing body and will be a key part of SWAFF in the years to come. It's because of his respected position which will enable Indian Football to be seen in much brighter light to other Asian countries, with West Asian countries especially being keen in having matches against Stephen Constantine's men.

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Dutta also stated that the President of SWAFF will travel to India at the end of August to finalise the structure of friendly matches against more competitive nations and said, "President of Saudi Arabia Football Federation, Adel Ezzat, who is also the President of SWAFF, shall come to India end of this month to finalise it."

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The senior vice president of the AIFF spoke some very kind words for the SWAFF during the FPAI Awards last month in Kolkata, where he stated how proud he was to represent Indian football nowadays and how much respect he's been given as compared to when he initially took his post in AIFF many years ago.

The Indian National Football Team is expected to play friendlies against Saudi Arabia and China, both of whom are ranked above the Blue Tigers in the current FIFA World rankings. These friendlies against the superior opponents will be good preparation for the AFC Asian Cup next year, in which India has been placed in Group A along with UAE, Thailand, and Bahrain. But before that, Stephen Constantine will take his boys to play in the SAFF Cup next month where the Blue Tigers look to successfully defend their title in Bangladesh.