Following a series of dramatic events in the national under-15 team’s preparation for the FIFA U-15 World Cup in Azerbaijan, Indian football is in a new administrative controversy. Recently, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) made a decision to have a dual coaching setup with Bibiano Fernandes as the head coach and Minerva Academy owner Ranjit Bajaj as the manager. But the announcement instantly generated friction as Bajaj said he was not consulted prior to the public announcement and learned about his appointment from social media.
In a video statement posted on social media, Bajaj formally rejected the manager's position due to fundamental differences in footballing philosophies and a lack of administrative transparency in the federation. He said combining two different tactical styles into a single coaching setup would not be effective, comparing the duo to José Mourinho and Pep Guardiola putting their players in the same team. His main argument to the team: high-pressing, aggressive systems cannot coexist with a conservative, low-block counter-attacking style without destroying the team's collective cohesion.
Furthermore, there were reports and statements that head coach Bibiano Fernandes had also walked away from the initial plan amidst the chaos, raising questions about the team's leadership. Bajaj subsequently posted a video address expressing his respect for Fernandes and his commitment to the youth development of the country. Having won significant international honors and numerous youth titles with Minerva Academy in prestigious youth competitions like the Gothia Cup, Bajaj has again appealed to the AIFF to streamline the command structure and has offered to take over the coaching and management of the under-15 team if given total autonomy.
The crisis has put pressure on the AIFF as India prepares to play in the FIFA U-15 World Cup for the first time. There is a growing demand among grassroots stakeholders and supporters for clear role definitions and cohesive leadership to ensure that the historic campaign doesn’t get derailed by internal administrative blunders.
