AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey at a draw ceremony of subsequent month’s SAFF Cup. Photo: Twitter/@kalyanchaubey

The Super Cup and Indian Women's League (IWL) had been held in April and May this yr however the All India Football Federation (AIFF) on May 17 mentioned it can attempt to keep away from holding competitions in these two scorching months in future.

The Super Cup, competed amongst I-League and Indian Super League golf equipment, had been held in Kerala from April 3 to 25 whereas the continued IWL in Ahmedabad started on April 26 and can finish 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 mentioned right here through the draw ceremony of subsequent month's SAFF Cup to be held in Bengaluru.

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

Another AIFF official advised PTI that the 2022-23 season spilled over to May because the calendar was crowded because of the popping out of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mr. Chaubey mentioned by the top of the South Asian Football Federation Cup (June 21 to July 4) in Bengaluru, the nationwide males's group would have performed 10 to 12 matches.

He mentioned India can be hoping to get invite to play within the Merdeka Cup in Malaysia, to be revived and held in October this yr, and the Kings Cup in Thailand, which might give the Indian group quiet a superb variety of matches forward of the Asian Cup to be held in Doha in January 2024.

"We've been trying to give maximum number of international matches to national team. After the tri-nation tournament in Manipur (in March), the intercontinental cup coming up in Bhubaneswar and the SAFF Cup combining together, the national team will get 10 to 12 international matches.

"After that, we hope to play within the Merdeka Cup after which the Kings Cup. So, including up with the AFC Asian Cup matches, the nationwide group may have one other 10 to 12 matches. All including up, within the 9-10 months' time (March 2023 to January 2024), the nationwide group will play 20-22 matches, which has by no means occurred within the historical past of Indian soccer," Mr. Chaubey claimed.

He also said that the AIFF will try to ensure that the national team plays against countries which are 5-6 places higher than the Blue Tigers in the FIFA rankings. India are currently ranked 101st.

"Our effort will likely be to mess around 20-25 high quality matches in a yr, which can enhance the boldness of the gamers," said the AIFF chief.

Mr. Chaubey also explained why two teams from the Middle East — Lebanon and Kuwait — were invited to play in the SAFF Cup.

"India has received the event eight instances. When we aren't successful, we're runners-up (besides in 2003 when India didn't make it to the ultimate). So, it has turn into very predictable if you already know {that a} group will likely be within the remaining even earlier than the beginning of the event.

"This is not good for the tournament and not good for the competing players. So this time, we requested the SAFF president and office bearers to invite teams from other regions. That is why, we invited Kuwait and Lebanon."

Lebanon are the highest-ranked facet within the SAFF Cup at 99th whereas Kuwait are at 143rd. The lowest ranked group within the event is Pakistan at 195th.