AIFF Media Team

NEW DELHI: Indian Football Association launched its first permament Grassroots Centre in Chinsurah, a picturesque town on the bank of the Ganges in Hooghly District.

The Project, a part of AIFF’s Pilot Project for development of State Associations will see kids between 6-12 years being taught the basics of the Sport on a regular basis.

It was on July 13, 2015 that the AIFF as part of its Four Years Strategic Plan created with the help of FIFA had announced its support for seven State Associations which intended at facilitating “technical and financial growth.”

Speaking exclusively to www.the-aiff.com, Dr. Shaji Prabhakaran, FIFA Regional Development Officer for South and Central Asia stated that  the Grassroots Centre will help in reviving the “long tradition” of Bengal Football.

“FIFA is eager to help All India Football Federation in restructuring and laying a path for the development of State Associations. West Bengal boasts of a rich history of Football in India and the Grassroots Centre in Chinsurah will further help in strengthening the Football tradition of the State. I wish the venture all the success” he said.

Utpal Ganguli, Hony. General Secretary, Indian Football Association maintained “this is a very important step towards identifying and developing young sterling talent. The Grassroots Centre also gives the young Players an opportunity to develop into better Players under the AIFF Coaches.”

“I am happy that it has started in the Hooghly district of West Bengal and we are committed to initiate this approach throughout West Bengal as the response towards the Grassroots Centre has been immense.”

“There is extreme keenness for Football amongst the young boys in the Centre and the Coaches too. This is a perfect recipe for Football development.”

The town of Chinsurah, once a Dutch settlement some 400 years back has been the home to many an International Footballer over the years.

“We were marking that promising Players from West Bengal were not visible in the National Team scenario, therefore we along with the AIFF decided to setup a dedicated Grassroots Football development centre, where scouted Grassroots talent from the districts in West Bengal could receive special modern scientific Football coaching,” Subrata Dutta, President, IFA, also the Vice-President, AIFF stated.

“With AIFF’s help we have establish the next frontier for Grassroots Football in West Bengal and if the future of Indian Football has to be made bright then maximum attention has to be given to Grassroots Football,” he added.

“In Kolkata there is a Nursery Football League since 1992 wherein 80 Clubs participate in U-15 and U-13 competitive Football matches and thus the Grassroots Centre will act as a supply line of promising Players to the Nursery League.”

Former Indian Goalkeeper Tanumoy Basu, presently the General Secretary of the Hooghly District Sports Association thanked both AIFF and FIFA for their support.

“I want to thank both FIFA and AIFF for their support for the development of the Sport.”

“This is a great opportunity for the state of West Bengal to capitalize on Grassroots Football. We have to teach Football from a young age to the kids and this Centre is one way of doing that, as it extends the horizons of Football.

“The Grassroots Centre has already received applause by the parents of the young kids and we already have attendance over 170+ kids in the Centre. This reflects on the growing popularity of Football in the districts.”