Professionalism the mantra of Indian soccer: Colaco

Kolkata, Aug 3 (UNI) AIFF Secretary Alberto Colaco today said meeting the clubs for a step towards making them fully professional was on the top of his agenda.

Talking to UNI here today, Colaco said, ''I am meeting the club officials this afternoon and I will hear from them what they need to become fully professional. Professionalism should be the mantra for all the clubs.'' ''It has to be a two-way process taking into consideration how much they have done and what support they need from us and how much we can do for them,'' he said.

Asked if he had set any parameters for them, he said, ''We have given them the requirements and now it's their turn to say things.'' Clubs becoming professional is an integral part of GOAL 2010 project of AIFF.

Asked if he would talk to the clubs about the release of players, he said, ''If they want to talk about it I will. But as of now there is nothing like that on the agenda and the clubs have not approached me directly on the issue also.'' On whether Baichung Bhutia will be called in this camp at all or not, he said, ''That is up to the coach and Baichung. I can't talk on their behalf.'' He also revealed that some of the players of Indian origin will be called for the camp here in Kolkata so that coach Bob Houghton can have a look at them and decide. Most of the players shortlisted by the AIFF are either from Canada and the USA or the England and Netherlands.

The camp is being held in Kolkata from August five as part of the preparations for Indian team's encounter against Saudi Arabia.

He said besides giving great coverage and leverage to the sports, the National Football League has given chance to the clubs to give more mileage to their sponsors and so go for a better bargain.

UNI BA JYN AY PC1607