Pakistan Enable India's Praful Patel to Become AFC Vice-President

In a show of South Asian solidarity, Pakistan withdrew their candidate for the post of Asian Football Confederation vice-president to let India's soccer chief Praful Patel win uncontested. Patel will be one of the five vice-presidents of the AFC with a four-year term.

The AFC elected several new office-bearers at its 26th Congress in Bahrain on Thursday. While Shaikh Salman won another four-year term as president, Patel was up against Pakistan for one of the vice-president's post.

Patel has been a heavyweight Indian politician and over the last 48 hours, managed to convince Pakistan to withdraw their candidature. By Wednesday night, it was clear that Patel would sail through.

"Yes, Pakistan agreed to withdraw. It was a good understanding and the decision was taken for the sake of the entire region. India will now have a bigger responsibility towards South Asia," Patel told this reporter.

Patel will be under pressure to deliver a successful under-17 FIFA World Cup in 2017. The All India Football Federation was represented by its three top officials at the high-profile Congress that was attended, among others, by FIFA president Sepp Blatter.

Indian football is at crossroads. What is the fate of the I-league? Will the newborn Indian Super League kill the importance of the national club tournament? Patel will surely be under a scanner. (Also read: Evolution, not magic, can help Indian football grow)

Asia has a new technical director -- Scotsman Andy Roxburgh. He is keen to explore India's status as a "sleeping giant." Therefore, Patel will have to justify his position and show that India can take up a leadership role to help soccer grow in the region.