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AIFC Signs MoU With Football Coaches Australia for Game Development in India; Paul Pogba Tests Positive For COVID-19 and More (Football Round-Up)

Short Passes (Football News Round-up): The Association of Indian Football Coaches (AIFC) and Football Coaches Australia sign MoU for the development of football in India | Paul Pogba left out of France squad after testing positive for COVID-19 | Several Chelsea FC players test positive for Covid-19 | AIFF asks East Bengal to provide update on players' dues by September 4 | Mohammedan Sporting rope in former Hyderabad FC forward Gani Ahmed Nigam.
AIFC and Football Coaches Australia partnership

The AIFC said that both bodies have joined forces to promote enrollment of female coaches in India.

The Association of Indian Football Coaches (AIFC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Football Coaches Australia (FCA) for the development of football in both the countries. 

The AIFC statement said that both bodies have joined forces to promote enrollment of female coaches and make football more accessible for all participants. 

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“After supporting each other in our journey to equip and educate our coaches, with this agreement we look forward to working together for the betterment of our coaches,” AIFC Director Dinesh Nair said. “In the past year, we have engaged with each other by conducting coaches’ workshops, webinars etc. Making it official will help us learn from each other, share best practices and also grow together.”

“There are a number of potential opportunities for both parties to collectively advance professional development, employment, cultural and commercial opportunities for football coaches,” Glenn Warry, the chief executive of  Football Coaches Australia said. 

Pogba Tests Positive for Coronavirus

Didier Deschamps has confirmed that Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba has been excluded from the France squad for the UEFA National League matches against Sweden and Croatia scheduled for next month after testing positive for Covid-19. 

The 27-year old midfielder has been replaced by teenager Eduardo Camavinga, for the UEFA National League. The French team comes under Group A of the league and will be playing against Sweden on September 6. 

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“Unfortunately he underwent a test yesterday (on Wednesday) which was revealed to be positive this morning,” Deschamps said addressing Pogba’s absence from the squad. 

Adrien Rabiot, was called back for the first time in the last two years following his refusal to be on the standby list for the 2018 World Cup. 

"He's found a very good level again. We can't go back, I'm not someone who likes to take radical decisions. He remained selectable,"  Deschamps clarified. 

Chelsea Reel Under COVID-19

British Media reports have confirmed that up to eight Chelsea players have missed out on pre-season training after they tested positive for Covid-19.

The players have to self isolate for a period of 10 days and can return to training after they test negative for the virus. 

While media reports have not named the players, Mason Mount, Tammy Abraham, Christian Pulisic and Fikayo Tomori are four players isolating. It is unknown if they are the individuals that have tested positive for coronavirus.

Apart from Chelsea, other Premier Leagues clubs such as Sheffield United, Brighton & Hove Albion and West Ham United have also reported coronavirus cases recently. 

AIFF Asks EB Update on Players’ Dues

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has asked East Bengal to pay players’ dues by September 4 after as many as five footballers approached the Players' Status Committee (PSC) in order to understand the issue of unpaid dues by the club's former investors.

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If the dues are unpaid till September 4, the matter will go in front of the PSC. Quess Corp ended its contract with East Bengal on July 17 and returned the sporting rights to the club after.

The players — many of whom have multi-year contracts with the club — have a month’s salary pending, and sent Quess East Bengal a notice regarding the status of their salary. Quess, in their reply, said they don’t have anything to do with East Bengal any more.

The players approached the AIFF PSC with the help of their representative, the Football Players' Association of India (FPAI).

Mohammedan Sign Gani

Mohammedan Sporting signed 22-year-old Gani Ahmed Nigam, the latest in a string of high profile signings as the legendary football club looks for a revival at the national level. Mohammedan Sporting have started their pre-season training camp before the 2nd Division  League starts next month.

Nigam, a winger, is from Kozhikode, Kerala. He gained a lot of attention after his performance for the FC Pune City reserve team. In 2018, Gokulam Kerala FC signed him and he got some playtime in the top division league, playing in five I-League matches and scoring against Shillong Lajong.

In 2019, he became a part of the Hyderabad FC, and played a proper match in the ISL last season. Aside from Nigam Mohammedan have also signed U17 World Cupper Anwar Ali and former Churchill Brother striker Willis Plaza, for the upcoming season. They have also signed Yan Law as manager for the club. Law, 26, is regarded as one of the brightest coaching prospects in the country and was head coach of Punjab FC last season. 

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