Dr. Shaji Prabhakaran for AIFF Gen. Secretary
With Alberto Colaco resigning from the post of AIFF General Secretary, the search is on for the new man to lead the footballing authority of India. Many candidates are on the scene and the one with the best chance of making it to the helm is Dr. Shaji Prabhakaran.
Dr. Shaji has his roots in Mavelikara in Allappey District. His parents shifted to West Bengal when he was very young. Shaji’s involvement with Kerala football was through AIFF and the Vision India Project.
As a player Shaji has his career experience spreading all over India . He represented Jiwaji University, Gwalior, and also was part of the winning team in the Inter District championship in Madhya Pradesh. He was also a registered player in the Jalpaiguri (West Bengal) District Football League
He did his Ph. D in Physical Education (Football) from Lakshmibai National University of Physical Education, Gwalior, India, 2000 on Indian Soccer: Its Transformation Towards Professionalism – An Analytical Survey
From 2000 to 2004, Dr. Shaji Prabhakaran coached & Managed Chandigarh Football Academy. During this period he managed to establish a long term player development strategy for the Academy including a talent scouting procedure. They also brought in structural change in the academy for holistic development of the players which saw 5 players representing India U-14 team in March 2004.
Dr. Shaji Prabhakaran later joined AIFF as Director of Youth Development and was in-charge for Coach Education. In 2005 he was promoted to Director of Vision & National Teams & Youth. During this period he was heading AFC’s Vision India programme.
Vision India Project, which deals in all aspects of football like administration, clubs, competitions & leagues, youth & grass-roots, coaching, refereeing, marketing & media, etc. was implemented in four States Manipur, Delhi, Tamilnadu and Kerala. Vision Project in Manipur was declared as one of the best executed projects in Asia by Asian Football Confederation (AFC) in 2008
At present Dr. Shaji is working as a freelance football Analyst and Consultant.
In the year 2000 he was the man who provided a development plan to Kerala Football Association when they organised a football seminar and later was invited by then Secretary KFA Mr. Suganan to present the development plan for Kerala in the seminar.
On Kerala football Dr. Shaji says “I always thought that Kerala has not achieved its real potential in football, and by adopting right structure and programmes, football in Kerala will realize its potential in the years to come”
We do sincerely hope that Dr. Shaji makes it to the top.
It indeed requires a person of his calibre, to take Indian football to its well deserving heights.
June 22nd, 2009 at 2:49 pm
let us hope Dr. Shaji get elected. We need someone who understands the game from its roots to be up there. good luck.
June 23rd, 2009 at 1:58 pm
Been knowing Dr. Shaji through various social media platforms. I suppose it is essential for India to have someone who knows football and who has strived to study the technical aspects of it. Gone are the days of archaic footballing methods. These days much importance is given to scientific coaching and training methods. So Dr. Shaji being a technocrat of football than a wheeler dealer organiser/politician, his candidature holds a good chance and should help Indian football constructively.
June 23rd, 2009 at 9:08 pm
I would be happy to feature him at Goal.com so the Indian football fans at large are aware of him and his ability.
June 27th, 2009 at 6:53 pm
He’s the perfect person for the job in the country at the moment! He will surely take indian football to unforeseen heights! Lets hope he makes it. Fingers crossed!
June 28th, 2009 at 1:32 am
hope he makes it…
June 28th, 2009 at 10:00 am
I wish all the best for Shaji Prabhakaran for the elections and hope he becomes the secretary of AIFF and takes Kerala football and Indian football to a higher level.
June 30th, 2009 at 10:48 pm
congratulations & wish you all the best for a
bright future in Indian football
July 4th, 2009 at 10:48 am
Dr. Shaji is by far the best candidate, thus he will most likely not win. typical indian sports for you.