Ranjit Bajaj blasts AIFF, claims players already selected for the national camp

AIFF appointed Ranjit Bajaj as Team Manager of India U-15.

Minerva Academy owner, Ranjit Bajaj has launched another attack on the All India Football Federation (AIFF), where he questioned the entire process surrounding the appointment of head coach and team manager of the Indian U-15 team.

Bibiano Fernandes and Ranjit Bajaj were appointed by the AIFF as the head coach and the team manager respectively. However, initially Ranjit Bajaj declined the role citing difference in playing ideologies, but it was later reported that Bibiano had turned the offer down, after which Ranjit Bajaj shared a video where he accepted the role.

But now things have taken another sharp turn, it is being said that Bibiano Fernandes has accepted the role and following this, Ranjit Bajaj launched a heavy attack on AIFF.

Bajaj alleged that the recent communication with him was just an eyewash and selecting Bibiano was already decided beforehand with the U-15 squad (45 players) also already selected. He also took a dig at the recruitment process, including the roles and responsibilities.

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A post shared by Ranjit Bajaj (@ranjitbajaj)

In this article, we take a look at what Ranjit Bajaj had to say in his recent video.

Ranjit Bajaj accuses AIFF of incompetence over India’s delayed preparations

Ranjit Bajaj in the recently shared video, blamed the AIFF for the current situation surrounding the India U-15 team questioning why India have not yet started their preparations with other countries already getting ready.

He also shared that he will name everyone accountable for this.

Ranjit Bajaj started with, “Jai Hind everyone, this is your very own Ranjit Bajaj and today I want to be telling you about how incompetent our federation is and the only reason we are here is because of AIFF and nobody else. And I will make sure that the future generations have nobody to blame but these guys. And I will name each and every one of you, all of you are to blame, I will make you a statue, I will make you wear shoes and paint your face black.”

“Because it is because of you people that we have this. Argentina’s team has been announced, people have played 50-50 international games, you people have not made your team, you have not even set up a camp.”

Bajaj blames M. Satyanarayan

Ranjit Bajaj has also questioned how a technical committee interviews for an administrative role, while also claiming that M. Satyanarayan communicated the proposal to him during a meeting in the AIFF office.

“You called me, first you told me that we want to appoint you with your team, Satyanarayan ji told me that, very clearly in AIFF office. I didn’t say it, he said it to me. After that, he said we are going to have an interview with the technical committee.”

“Technical committee takes interviews for coaches, not for administrative positions. Yes? Because till date, the technical committee has never taken an interview for a manager’s position. Then why did they take my interview?”

“And when they took my interview, they asked me about my coaching style, my vision, my philosophy and I explained the whole thing to them and all of them were ex-internationals. And then you send a letter to me, and you even tell me Mr. Satyanarayan that it’s okay. Mr. Bibiano said no, you can take over. I said no problem, I will take over immediately because I don’t want to sabotage my own country when he’s there and me there and I won’t be having differing views. And you said no, please take over, accept it.”

Questions lack of clarity over his role and responsibilities

Bajaj alleged that even after he accepted the position, there was no clear communication about what his exact role will be. He questioned why the AIFF didn’t give him a job role clarity before sending the offer letter.

He also claimed that he planned to send 58 coaches to cover all 790 districts and select the U-15 players, even those who have never played in the I-League or for the top 8 team.

“Normally, when you say that this is your job, when you go for an interview, they tell you what your roles and responsibilities are, and then they give you the offer letter. So, they sent me the offer letter without sending me any roles and responsibilities, and I accepted. Why? Because I thought it meant the application that I had given you, in which I told you the 85-day plan, minute by minute, along with a scouting plan.”

“People keep saying, ‘It’s Minerva’s team, Minerva’s team’ No. Only the best Indians would have gone. I had planned for 58 coaches to cover all 790 districts. For the first time in the history of Indian football, every single district would have been covered.”

“I would have found the best boys, even those who have never played in the I-League. Why? Because just because someone has never played in the I-League doesn’t mean they cannot be the best. Or just because they are not in the top eight, you don’t have to select only players from the top eight teams. There is one good player in every team. Every team has a good kid, and sometimes he loses because his team isn’t good enough. Why don’t you give him an opportunity? Why do you keep selecting boys from just eight teams?”

Questions role offered after Bibiano’s appointment

Bajaj questioned the role given to him after the appointment of Bibiano Fernandes and said that it was completely different from what he applied for.

“You sent me a letter saying accept it. I accepted it. Next day you said Bibiano is there and your roles and responsibilities are booking tickets, looking after the boys, discipline, being in charge of their meals and giving you reports every day. Do you really think this is why I applied for the job? Shame on you, man.”

“Gen Z and the next generation will never forgive you. They will never forgive. I know you called me because of the pressure, but they will never forgive you,” he concluded with.

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