| Players’ body hopeful of AIFF recognition  Lallianzuala Chhangte receives FPAI's best male player's award from former India player Mehrajuddin Wadoo. Source: FPAI For a country that baulks at the idea of a players’ union, it is commendable that the Football Players Association of India (FPAI) turned 18 this year. That the All India Football Federation (AIFF) takes quasi-cognisance of it is nothing short of incredible. Quasi-cognisance? Well, the AIFF’s player status committee acknowledges FPAI taking up cudgels for players, usually because their contracts have not been honoured, and more often than not the verdict is what the players’ body thinks it should be. FPAI president Renedy Singh is trying to improve that. After years of being stonewalled, neglected, ignored even, AIFF could recognise FPAI, said Singh. “We should work together, (M) Satyaranarayan told me recently,” said Singh over the phone from his home near Imphal. That the acting secretary-general of AIFF has said it is one reason why Singh is hopeful. That AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey is one of the founding members of FPAI is another. FPAI has about 250 men and 50 women players as members. Chhangte, Chhibber best Owing to an illness in the family Singh skipped FPAI’s annual awards function in Goa last Saturday. Unsurprisingly, Lallianzuala Chhangte, who has extended his stay at Mumbai City FC till 2026-27, got the most votes for the men’s best player award. Dalima Chhibber was voted best woman player. Full list of FPAI awards here  Winner of the best woman's player award Dalima Chhibber with Inter Kashi goalkeeper Arindam Bhattacharja. Source: FPAI. AIFF has not held its awards function for two years but this is one programme Singh would not want to collaborate on. “As a former player, I know what it means to be judged by peers and I wouldn’t want to take that pleasure away from those who win our awards,” he said. Of particular significance this year was the newly formed Saudi Arabia players’ association signing a memorandum of understanding with FPAI. The irony of being acknowledged by a future World Cup host, and one of Asia’s most important football nations, and by FIFPro, the world players’ organisation, but not by AIFF is not lost on anyone. “FIFPro understands we are trying and knows that India is not the only country where the players’ body is not recognised. The thing is: we are not here to fight AIFF. If we can work together, it will be better for football. Collaboration, not confrontation, is what we are looking for,” said Singh. Contract disputes Visiting clubs in I-League and ISL is part of FPAI’s annual to-do list, according to general manager Cyrus Confectioner. Fair play is an important discussion at those meetings with players, said Confectioner whose staff, including him, has been expanded to three recently. Players are also given a “red button” which is a direct number to FIFPro headquarters in Hoofddorp near Amsterdam to report on suspicions of fixing without having to reveal their identity. Also part of its yearly programme is distributing kits to cadets in different coaching centres run by around 20 FPAI members.  FPAI general manager Cyrus Confectioner (left) and Saudi Arabia's players’ association sign a memorandum of understanding. Source: FPAI. Most of FPAI’s time and energy go in helping players get their dues, said Confectioner. FPAI deals with anything between 50-60 such disputes annually, he said. It prepares the players’ case and takes it to AIFF. FPAI also helps players get pro bono legal help, he said. Things have improved since his time, said Singh. “ISL contracts and most of those in I-League are not a problem. In my time, I-League was the top competition. Players not being paid what they were promised, not having a copy of the contract, some not even having a contract would happen all the time.” Now that happens in state leagues, some of which last one month, said the former international who has captained Mohun Bagan and East Bengal. Singh said it is also an opportunity to educate players. “The player in a state league today can be in ISL tomorrow.”  FPAI president Renedy Singh has captained Mohun Bagan and East Bengal and played 13 years for India. Thinking like a player It has been over 13 years since Singh, 45, last played for India. In that time, he has run a coaching centre in Imphal placing trainees at I-League and ISL clubs, was assistant to David Platt at FC Pune City, held the same post at East Bengal where he was also in charge of a few ISL matches and took Asia’s highest coaching badge. But after all these years, the natural right-footer who, through sheer hard work, became a constant on the left of India’s midfield for 13 years (1998-2011) still thinks like a player. Which is why he said AIFF insinuating that players did not like Igor Stimac’s coaching style in its statement was not right. It seemed like players were made scapegoats especially because no names were named, no details mentioned, he said. “And why should it be about some players not liking the coach after AIFF has made the appointment following due process? If they are not used, some players may say the same about the new coach (who is yet to be appointed). “AIFF has people who could evaluate Stimac, why should it listen to players who may not have been happy?” Maybe he would have pointed this out to Chaubey, who like Singh is a product of the Tata Football Academy, had FPAI been recognised by AIFF. Maybe, one day an FPAI president will be able to do that. | 
