GAURESH MAHADIK

Sports fan..Media Man.. Peter Pan || Follow @Sportsmint

[GAURESH MAHADIK @Gaureshsm53]

AIFF’s failure to release a clear season calendar has real, tangible consequences.

Because there was no clarity on fixtures, timelines, or schedules, FC Goa went into their AFC Champions League 2 clash vs Al Nassr without a front-of-jersey sponsor, causing a loss of lakhs of revenue in one match. Getting a sponsor for FC Goa should have been a cakewalk for @ravi_804, instead it became a heavy headache.

It’s not just about money. Sponsors invest when there’s certainty and planning. If the federation can’t provide a roadmap for the season, clubs are left scrambling, unable to monetise even their biggest opportunities. This is poor governance, poor planning, and a massive missed chance for Indian football.

A club like FC Goa representing India on a continental stage deserves professional support, not hurdles. Missing a commercial opportunity of this scale isn’t just unfortunate.. it’s avoidable.

AIFF must take responsibility: plan the season, communicate properly, and ensure clubs can maximise sponsorships and exposure. Otherwise, India’s football growth will remain stuck in excuses.

@sportsmint @IndianFootball

#AIFF #IndianFootball #FCGoa #FCGNSR #AFCChampionsLeague2

[GAURESH MAHADIK @Gaureshsm53]

@pforprayash @AllIndiaFtbl His grandparent were Indians and this makes him eligible for Sports Passport if it gets green signal from the government.

[Crish 🇮🇳🇺🇳 @Crish11x]

My biggest sports dream is to see:

1) Cricket to become global sport like Football.
2) India qualify for FIFA World Cups regularly.
3) India to be in top 20 nations in the Olympics.

[GAURESH MAHADIK @Gaureshsm53]

🚨 Another step towards simplifying OCI cards. I wish players and clubs work together to get the status as quick as they can!

#IndianFootball

[GAURESH MAHADIK @Gaureshsm53]

@cptsii In Ahmedabad right now, forget about authentic, not even a single sea food place around. How can this be possible??

[GAURESH MAHADIK @Gaureshsm53]

@IndianGems_ And how is it gonna happen? Are there going to be just five nations participating??

[Subhadip Barui 🇮🇳🇨🇵 @Subhadip_barui9]

Save Maharashtra football ! Save Neville Dsouza ground !

Share much as you can, it need to be discussed everywhere !

[GAURESH MAHADIK @Gaureshsm53]

@mufaddal_vohra I mean… so did Suryakumar Yadav as a captain.. but you can’t see him in the blues now.. different rules for different players?

[Indian Football News and Updates @IndianFoot92050]

Even the Mumbai Football Association employees and General Secretary has appealed to fans for not destroying Nevill Dsouza ground in India by Maharashtra Goverment.Please @Dev_Fadnavis dont destroy ground #SaveMaharashtraFootball #SaveNevilleDsouzaGroup #SaveMumbaiFootball

[GAURESH MAHADIK @Gaureshsm53]

@aniljdias So you mean never?

[উদ্দীপ্ত 🇮🇳 @uddiptaNEUFC]

I've been seeing a lot of people getting outraged due to MEA saying that passports aren't citizenship proof. Here's me, celebrating it cus I know this is a soft launch of Sports Passport that'll make Indian football worth watching again 👀🫣🤭🤫

#passport #citizenship

[GAURESH MAHADIK @Gaureshsm53]

As a sports journalist, I would say this is a welcoming opportunity for all the PIO/OCI players as they can represent India in football, Volleyball and other sports with just ‘Sports Passport’ without actually being Indian! Can help us get better and eventually the glory will help us get better and help grassroots grow.

[GAURESH MAHADIK @Gaureshsm53]

@bluemintues Spider-Man is a movie for kids, not a chance this is happening.

[GAURESH MAHADIK @Gaureshsm53]

@MarcusMergulhao @SmartGamerRaj1 And that’s gonna develop #IndianFootball??

[GAURESH MAHADIK @Gaureshsm53]

@7negiashish @KhelNow We will be playing ASEAN Cup, for sure we are tumbling down rankings.. if anything we should hope the other teams lose too.. !

[GAURESH MAHADIK @Gaureshsm53]

People asking why India isn’t part of the World Cup? Do you’ll even know that the India was on a verge of not even having a football season a year back?? Do people know our Indian football clubs?

It’s not about 1.4 Billion nation, it’s about the system that’s in place. Other small nations have dual citizenship player playing for their country. People born in Spain, France, Germany are playing for Cape Verde, Haiti, Curacao and even other Asian Nations. This isn’t possible for India as we don’t allow dual citizenship. A certain ‘sports passport’ (PIO/OCI) has been proposed to PM Modi but that’s just a short term solution. I’m sure for a nation that’s glory hunters, once we feature in the WC, our system will become much much better.

But the question that arises after every four years needs to be asked even after the tournament has ended. Regularly. Our authorities needs to be questioned.

As a journalist and an ardent #IndianFootball fan, it’s hard to answer the same thing every four years. It’s sad. Please follow Indian Football, it’s shit right now but it needs constant criticism for it to become better. Our cricketers when doesn’t play good for once the question arises about their inclusion for the next match. Same needs to be done here in numbers. Coach, players, federation, everyone needs to be questioned. The system needs to be lead for former players and who are in the game for long. Not politicians who could fill their pockets with fundings. Please people do follow our beautiful game, even beyond the #FIFAWorldCup2026.

[GAURESH MAHADIK @Gaureshsm53]

@KishanKol15 @harsh03443 #IndianFootball is in dumpster. City Football Group pulled out months back. Every ISL team owner is only burning their investment. If GOI agreed for PIO/OCI passports, the players can make difference at international level which will later bring in flow in revenues.

[Ashish Negi @7negiashish]

Even after failing to win the SAFF U-20 Championship, Mahesh Gawli is, as things stand, likely to continue as head coach of the India U-20 team for the AFC U-20 Asian Cup qualifiers. #IndianFootball

Meanwhile, Bibiano Fernandes, who was initially signed to lead the U-20 setup, has left the national team structure after guiding India back to the AFC U-17 Asian Cup, meaning AIFF will now need to appoint a new coach for the next India U-17 batch.

[Shaji Prabhakaran @Shaji4Football]

Why we only discuss #IndianFootball once in every four years?

This documentary does highlights our failures and nothing will change when we will wake up in 2030 if we continue to put focus on beautiful game once in four years.

The voices that matter and if they love to see Indian football rise to reach to #FIFAWorldCup then please do something within your power to highlight what changes we would require to transform the landscape, not once in four years but on a consistent basis.

Your love for the game can’t be only when the biggest extravaganza is on the show but throughout. No love survives if it is occasional but everyday and always.

[Arman Khan @HopelessFanASM]

I will become lifetime BJP supporter if Modi Government passes Sporting Passport for OCI PIO.

[GAURESH MAHADIK @Gaureshsm53]

@iambolar Or best, just give the World Cup to the highest ranked FIFA nation. What say? 🙂