The President of the All India Football Federation (AIFF), Kalyan Chaubey, has expressed his personal commitment to restoring the former glory of football in Jammu and Kashmir. During a recent visit to Kashmir, Chaubey dedicated a full day to meeting various stakeholders to understand the challenges faced by J&K football and its governing body, the J&K Football Association (JKFA).
Highlighting that his visit was personal and motivated by his desire to see J&K football flourish once again, Chaubey met with a diverse group, including the owner of Real Kashmir FC, club owners, former JKFA officials, ex-members of the J&K Sports Council, sports journalists, coaches, players, and current officials from the DFA Srinagar and JKFA.
Since 2022, the JKFA has been without an elected central body, which has led to administrative challenges. While district-level elections, particularly in the Kashmir region, have taken place, the central body elections remain stalled due to various issues, including ongoing court cases. This vacuum in leadership has significantly impacted the development of football in the region and hindered AIFF’s initiatives. As a result, the AIFF has been coordinating directly with the J&K Sports Council, which also managed the state’s Santosh Trophy team.
During his meetings, Chaubey emphasized his intention to deeply understand the internal challenges within the JKFA and explore solutions. He stressed that his engagement extended beyond JKFA officials to include all stakeholders involved in J&K football. He acknowledged the critical state of the sport in the region and pledged to work towards its revival.
Chaubey, who personally recalls the golden era of J&K football, expressed hope for its resurgence. He announced plans to visit J&K again soon and seek a meeting with the Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, to discuss the situation. He also sought updates on the legal disputes affecting the JKFA.
In a gesture of encouragement, Chaubey congratulated the J&K football team for their achievement in qualifying for the next edition of the National Games, following their top-eight finish in the recent Santosh Trophy tournament.
The stakeholders shared their insights with the AIFF President, highlighting the pressing need for immediate intervention to address the issues plaguing football in J&K. Their collective feedback underscored the urgent need for stability and support to revive the sport in the region.