AIFF to avoid holding competitions in hot months of April and May in future

The Super Cup and Indian Women’s League (IWL) were held in April and May this year but the All India Football Federation (AIFF) on May 17 said it will try to avoid holding competitions in these two hot months in future.

The Super Cup and Indian Women's League (IWL) were held in April and May this year but the All India Football Federation (AIFF) on May 17 said it will try to avoid holding competitions in these two hot months in future.

The Super Cup, competed among I-League and Indian Super League clubs, were held in Kerala from April 3 to 25 while the ongoing IWL in Ahmedabad began on April 26 and will end on May 19.

"This month, after the end of Women's League (IWL), the football season will end. It will be our endeavour how, considering the weather in our country, we can avoid holding football competitions in April and May," AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey said here during the draw ceremony of next month's SAFF Cup to be held in Bengaluru.

"We do not want our players to struggle against the tough weather."

Another AIFF official told PTI that the 2022-23 season spilled over to May as the calendar was crowded due to the coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mr. Chaubey said by the end of the South Asian Football Federation Cup (June 21 to July 4) in Bengaluru, the national men's team would have played 10 to 12 matches.

He said India is also hoping to get invite to play in the Merdeka Cup in Malaysia, to be revived and held in October this year, and the Kings Cup in Thailand, which would give the Indian team quiet a good number of matches ahead of the Asian Cup to be held in Doha in January 2024.