AIFF offers coach Armando one-year contract

Instead of a longer tenure as desired by him, national football coach Armando Colaco will be offered a one-year contract after his current term expires this month, the All India Football Federation (AIFF), said on Thursday.

The AIFF, in its Executive Committee meeting, in New Delhi, decided to offer Armando, also Dempo coach, an initial contract of one year, which could be extended to one more year if, under him, the performance of the national team is satisfactory.

On the basis of the response from the coach, the Emergency Committee of the AIFF, comprising the president, five vice-presidents, the general secretary and the treasurer, will take a decision in a meeting to be held shortly.

"We are giving him (Armando Colaco) an offer of one year and if the performance of the national team is satisfactory he will be given another year," AIFF senior vice-president Subrata Dutta said.

"According to the response from the coach, the emergency committee of the AIFF will decide," he said without divulging the details of the terms and conditions of the offer.

Colaco has had a decent four-month stint as national coach with one win, two draws and three losses in the international matches India had played during the time.

Colaco, however, had expressed his desire to have a longer stint at the helm, reportedly, a five-year contract, saying he wanted to build a team for the future with his brand of possession football.

In another important decision, the Executive Committee of AIFF has also agreed to the appointment of Dutchman Robert Baan as technical director to oversee the overall development of Indian football.

AIFF general secretary Kushal Das has been authorised by the Executive Committee to negotiate on the terms and conditions of Baan's ppointment.

Baan, 68, has experience of more than four decades in management and other technical positions in various Dutch clubs as well as stints in Asia and Australia.

The AIFF Executive Committee also decided that the total prize money of the I-League, which will start next month, will be increased from Rs 1.10 crore to Rs 1.50 crore with the winner pocketing Rs 1.10 crore.

The South Asian Football Federation Championships, which was earlier scheduled to be held in Cuttack, Orissa, has also been shifted to the national capital and will be held from December 2-10.