<p>Indian Arrows, comprising mostly under-21 players, was formed last year to prepare them for the 2018 World Cup and as a first step they have been fielded in the elite I-League.<br />The AIFF is struggling to maintain the team within its Rs.7 crore annual budget as it shells out Rs.11 lakh a month as rent for the self-contained resort where the players are lodged in Gurgaon. And the players get paid between Rs.20 lakh-Rs.25 lakh a year. Domestic carrier Indigo picks up tabs for air travel of the team for I-League matches. <br /><br />"We are talking to some sponsors with a May 31-deadline. If a sponsorship deal is not sealed by the month-end, AIFF's emergency committee, comprising key federation office-bearers, will take a final call," said AIFF secretary-general Kushal Das, after the executive committee meeting chaired by president Praful Patel Friday.<br /><br />The AIFF has approached Pune-based industrialist Vishwajeet Kadam to sponsor the Arrows, but it is in no mood to sell the team. The federation somehow wants to keep the project going.<br /><br />Despite their inexperience, the club, coached by Englishman Desmond Bulpin, has done moderately well in their maiden I-League season and with a match left they are currently lying at the 10th place in the 14-team points-table.</p>
<p>Indian Arrows, comprising mostly under-21 players, was formed last year to prepare them for the 2018 World Cup and as a first step they have been fielded in the elite I-League.<br />The AIFF is struggling to maintain the team within its Rs.7 crore annual budget as it shells out Rs.11 lakh a month as rent for the self-contained resort where the players are lodged in Gurgaon. And the players get paid between Rs.20 lakh-Rs.25 lakh a year. Domestic carrier Indigo picks up tabs for air travel of the team for I-League matches. <br /><br />"We are talking to some sponsors with a May 31-deadline. If a sponsorship deal is not sealed by the month-end, AIFF's emergency committee, comprising key federation office-bearers, will take a final call," said AIFF secretary-general Kushal Das, after the executive committee meeting chaired by president Praful Patel Friday.<br /><br />The AIFF has approached Pune-based industrialist Vishwajeet Kadam to sponsor the Arrows, but it is in no mood to sell the team. The federation somehow wants to keep the project going.<br /><br />Despite their inexperience, the club, coached by Englishman Desmond Bulpin, has done moderately well in their maiden I-League season and with a match left they are currently lying at the 10th place in the 14-team points-table.</p>