Seeds planted for FIFA Goal Project in Bangalore

The foundation stone laying ceremony for the football academy kicked-off the FIFA Goal Project in Bangalore.

This residential football academy will nurture 40-60 talented footballers at one time and the academy will be equipped with international coaches, trainers, gymnasium, and various other required state-of-the-art amenities.

In a brief but eventful function, Karnataka chief minister B S Yeddyurappa laid the foundation stone for the football academy at the Bangalore Football Stadium today morning.

Also present in the occasion were the AIFF president and Union civil aviation minister, Praful Patel, AIFF general secretary, Alberto Colaco, AIFF vice-president and KSFA president, A.R.Khaleel, several other former international football players, and distinguished dignitaries.

The AIFF president applauded the fact that the Bangalore Football Stadium is perhaps the only football stadium in India which is owned by a state association and could utilize the area for this project.

It was way back in 1975, when the Government of Karnataka granted 17 acres of land to the Bangalore Football Stadium. Even the stadiums in the football-popular states like Goa and West Bengal are either own by the state government or by the defense establishments.

Patel thanked the state government for providing necessary support to enhance the football infrastructure in the city and also requested to continue doing so.

Chief minister B S Yeddyurappa sounded cheerful and announced a grant of 5 crore for upgrading the stadium. Also, the chief minister thanked FIFA and AIFF for showing keen interest in developing football in India.

The other two venues selected by AIFF for the FIFA Goal Project are Sikkim and Andaman. Bangalore football is benefiting the most by such initiatives.

Earlier, FIFA has selected Bangalore Football Stadium as one of the venue in India for laying artificial turf under FIFA’s "Win in India with India" initiative.

The onus is now up to the state association, KSFA to create an excellent infrastructure and promote the game by nurturing talents across the state.