AIFF signs MoU with German Football League organising body

New Delhi, Dec 12 (UNI) All India Football Federation's (AIFF) plans to start a professional league in the country from late next year today received a shot in the arm with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the German Football League (DFL) organising body here today.

Chief Operating Officer Holgor Hieronymous, who signed the MoU on behalf of DFL, called it ''the first step'' to reaching out to Asia in spreading German brand of football, but AIFF Secretary General Alberto Colaco said it would be a major step towards transforming a semi-professional league to a full-fledged one.

''We are happy to have signed this MoU and we hope that it would greatly help in transforming a semi-professional league to a professional one in India,'' said Mr Colaco, who signed the MoU on behalf of the AIFF.

Five representatives of DFL gave a presentation yesterday on the various aspects of co-operation and the AIFF president Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi gave the nod to sign the MoU, Mr Colaco said.

Mr Colaco said the MoU would be on three core areas -- management and organisaional exchange, sporting exchange and youth level exchange.

But, both Holgor and Colaco said the details of the areas of co-operation has been left for future discussion.

''We have been interacting for the last six months and we did not plan to sign the MoU so soon. So, we are meeting very soon to work out the details,'' Mr Colaco said.

Mr Holgor, however, touched upon exchange of expertise in the organisation of professional league, infrastructure development, stadium security and training of coaches.

He said he wanted to sell German brand of football in India and later to other Asian countries. He said the exchange of expertise on various aspects would benefit Indian football though, he said, he was mindful of the Indian obsession to cricket.

''India is a big market and we want to spread German brand of football in Asia and we are starting with India for that,'' he said.

But, he parried questions as to why DFL chose India and not other countries which are ranked higher and where the sport is more popular.

Mr Holgor said all the 35 clubs of DFL would want to come to India and the Indian fans could see a big German club coming to India in near future.

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