India a football boom waiting to happen, reckons FIFA chief

Zurich Aug 29 (IANS) FIFA President Gianni Infantino on Tuesday said he reckoned FIFA Under-17 World Cup hosts India have plenty of room to develop their football and awaits a boom in the sport.

"Although football has been making considerable strides in the country for years now there is a unanimous sense that the room for growth is still of gigantic proportions. India is a football boom waiting to happen: it is simply a matter of investing in development -- and more importantly doing so in a wise and effective manner " the 47-year-old wrote in FIFA 1904 magazine.

With exactly 37 days left for the World Cup to kick-off Infantino believes India is laying a foundation for revolution of the sport in the country.

"Today as we count down towards the kick-off of the FIFA U-17 World Cup in October India is fortunate enough to have this youth tournament as a valuable spotlight shining right over its development plan " Infantino said.

"With the Mission 11 Million which is taking football to school across the whole country India has been laying the foundation for a true revolution. A revolution of development and popularisation " he added.

India will make their debut in the FIFA U-17 World Cup. The tournament will be a stepping stone for the young footballers the President believes.

"The FIFA U-17 World Cup is by its very definition a stepping stone for young footballers to experience what the global stage feels like " Infantino explained.

India will host 23 nations in the marquee tournament from October 6 to 28.

--IANS
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