By Nilanjan Datta,
AIFF Media Team

NEW DELHI: 2016 being a Leap Year, on the Calendar March 8 despite being just another day in the crowd of 366 days, is special. From early morning, there are trends on Twitter, messages, posts on FB, celebrities educating you, campaigns – all desperate to teach you to ‘respect Women’ – it’s the International Women’s Day.

At Football House, the Headquarters of All India Football Federation, March 8, the Women’s Day is just another day. Simply because Women’s Day is celebrated all year through, one doesn’t need to wake up to empower Women on the specific day.

“All India Football Federation considers women’s empowerment in Football as an important aspect of developing the game in line with FIFA’s recent reform policy,” General Secretary Kushal Das tells www.the-aiff.com.

“There are a number of very talented Women Administrators working in AIFF with very good managerial and interpersonal skills and hopefully they will play a big part in taking Women’s Football forward in India,” he adds.

There are 10 Women Staffers at Football House at the moment, some of whom leave their Homes early as 7am to start work on time. Enterprising as they are, women take care of multiple disciplines in Football House starting from National Team to Women’s Football to Grassroots to Academies and Coaching to other administrative duties like Secretariatship, Logistics and Reception.

“I don’t have the technical knowledge and hence, I cannot contribute on the field or as a Coach. But I can handle the back Office job to ensure smooth functioning on the field,” Jyotsna Gupta, Executive Assistant to the General Secretary quips. “It’s been a journey of eight years till now. Football has become an integral part of my Family. There are so many developmental activities which have been laid down and are in progress. We have identified our ‘Lakshya.’”

Receptionist Rajni Rawat nods. “Football is synonymous with each of our lives. Like in a Football match, there are moments of ups and downs in all our lives. I take inspiration from the sport. It is so much co-related with the society,” she maintains. “I always fall back on Football to take inspiration in my life. It’s a Team sport and off the field, I play my part in the Team.”

The ‘Team sport’ that it is, it “binds people together.”

“Football binds people together. I was exposed to this wonderful World four years back and though I cannot play, I am enjoying and enriching myself to keep increasing my knowledge bank with the beautiful aspects of the ‘Beautiful Game,” Shveta Sharma, Assistant Manager, Coach Education and Academies, utters it all in one breath. “I watch it regularly and if that means travelling to other destinations, so be it. I am a proud fan of the Women and Men in Blue. Sandesh Jhingan is my favourite Player.”

Some have, however, played it at a competitive level.

“Having played at a competitive level, I have been able to nurture the sportsmanship spirit, integrity and leadership in my life. Football is driving me to pathways where I can stand as a strong Woman in the society,” Anjana Turambekar, Assistant Manager, Grasstroots feels. “I am an optimist. Each step of transformation of Indian Football gives me immense happiness and keeps me motivated,” she admits.

You walk from one Department to the other. Smiling faces greet you and even as you sit and chat a bit, you gauge the restlessness among the Women Staffers in the prospect of the delay which may defer their work.

“Football to me is everything and I am proud to be a part of AIFF and Football Fraternity as a whole. I would like to see Indian Football reach new heights soon,” Shantha Gopinath, Manager, National Teams, keeps it crisp.

Sapna Rani, Assistant Manager, Women’s and Academies understands that Football is one of the “best mediums” for social development. Football is my World. It’s one of the best mediums for social development for Women. God has given me one life and I have dedicated it to Football. I will try my best to support Women’s Football to take it to the next level.”

Inspiring – isn’t it? But there’s more.

Indu Choudhury was a Cricketer herself before she chose to become a Football Administrator. “Like most, I had my first brush with Cricket as a teenager but Football is my first love,” she confesses. “I just love the sport and want to stay involved. Be it while travelling with the Teams, or watching from the stands with my Husband or on Television, I stay engrossed all throughout. I love my Country and am perhaps the biggest cheerleader for Women’s Football in our Country,” she pronounces.

In a society ruled more by Twitter trends nowadays, empowerment of Women is unfortunately restricted to just a day where the trend and ‘fashion’ stays to celebrate it without willing to spread the message all throughout our lives by understanding the basic values.

At Football House, it’s different.