An AIFF Executive Committee member slammed Ranjit Bajaj as question marks loom over the Minerva Academy owner’s role as India U-15 manager. Bajaj was appointed as India’s team manager for the upcoming FIFA U-15 World Cup festival. Initially, he declined the offer after the AIFF appointed Bibiano Fernandes as head coach. Meanwhile, Fernandes initially didn’t react to the offer as AIFF was yet to ask him formally.

Bajaj had rejected the role, stating that he wanted to take his own coaching staff with him, free of charge, and also train the players in his academy. He also claimed that he and Fernandes were not a good partnership as they had opposing ideas. Less than 24 hours after declining the offer, Bajaj took a U-turn and accepted the role, as media reports stated that Fernandes rejected the offer.

But then on Tuesday, Fernandes accepted the head coach offer. Bajaj hasn’t yet released a statement or reacted to Fernandes’ acceptance.

Reacting to the situation, an AIFF Executive Committee member, who was present during the meeting last week where the role was offered to Bajaj, criticised the Minerva Academy owner.

Speaking to Sports Now, he said, “He criticises the AIFF so much. Why did he even apply for the job in the first place?”

“One member even pointed that out during the meeting.

“Also, he has built his image around his academy performing well in international tournaments. Don’t African teams perform well in under-age tournaments? After performing well in under-age tournaments, do they do well in senior tournaments like the FIFA World Cup? No, they don’t.

“Also, the tournaments which he wins outside India, are the clubs really sending their main academy team? No, they aren’t. Earlier, youth tournaments were a good launching pad for youngsters in European academies. But now they don’t participate in such tournaments. The best players from their academies don’t participate in such tournaments where Bajaj goes and wins with his Minerva team.

“How many players from his academy are in the starting XI of our senior Indian team? It’s not all 11 players.”

In an earlier conversation with Sports Now, the senior official also revealed that if Bajaj rejects his offer, then Bibiano will take up both roles, as he has done in his other appointments.

“If he doesn’t accept the manager role, then it will be like how it has always been with Bibiano. He has always taken his own coaching staff, and everything has been under him. It has worked out before, and it will obviously work out now,” he said.

The inaugural U-15 World Cup festival will feature 211 member associations and will be played in an eight-a-side format. If Bajaj accepts the managerial offer, then he will take up an administrative role, something which he is not inclined to do. Speaking to Sports Now, Bajaj has already confirmed his interest in taking his own coaching staff for the tournament and also utilising his own tactical plans.