GUWAHATI: With an aim to promote women football in the country All India Football Federation in its licensing criteria made it mandatory for clubs to develop a women's team. Now they also want teams from different parts of the country to participate in the Hero Indian Women League (IWL) 2020-21.
Welcoming the steps the secretary of the Assam Football Association Hememdra Nath Brahma said, "It is a good move. Women footballers across the country would be benefitted."
During the next two years, India will host a couple of international women soccer meets. It will start with FIFA Women U-17 World Cup next year. The competition would be followed by the AFC Women's Asia Cup in 2022.
Regarding the women league, Brahma said: Everything is not finalized yet. However, State Associations were instructed by the Federation to conclude their State Women League by December. Later two top teams from this league would qualify for the Hero IWL. However, the State units have to submit the name of participating clubs of their respective State league within a few days.
The sports activities in the State came to standstill once lockdown was imposed to combat COVID-19. The government recently allowed athletes of non-contact games to start their training but it will take some more times before footballers get the chance to come back into the ground.
When raised the point AFA secretary said that they had not taken any decision yet. Still enough time in hand for the preparation of State Women League and final decisions would be taken after discussing the matter in the governing body.
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