FIFA’s Chief of Global Football Development Arsene Wenger unveiled the first-ever FIFA Talent Academy in India on Tuesday, November 21. All India Football Federation (AIFF) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Government of Odisha to arrange an AIFF-FIFA Academy at Odisha Football Academy in Bhubaneshwar.
The legendary soccer supervisor is on an India tour and not too long ago attended India’s males’s crew’s FIFA World Cup Qualifier recreation in opposition to Qatar at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneshwar on Tuesday. AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey thanked the Government of Odisha and FIFA for organising an academy to scorch younger expertise in India.
“I thank the Government of Odisha and FIFA President for his support to Indian Football in every possible way,” Kalyan Chaubey stated. “The result of that is the presence of the legendary Mr. Arsène Wenger today in India. His guidance, leadership, technical plan and strategy will help India dream. Let’s take a small step and qualify for the FIFA U-17 World Cup on merit, and soon the senior FIFA World Cup. I have high expectations through the AIFF-FIFA Talent Academy that we will get our best U-17 team in the coming three years.”
The former Arsenal supervisor defined the necessity for the youth training system and added that the academy will ‘assist India get back on the map’.
“I’m happy to be in India with my team,” Wenger stated. “I noticed the amenities and the standard of infrastructure is nice right here in Odisha. We’ve realised that amongst 211 nations, most haven’t any actual youth training. The greatest nations have good training system for younger kids. So, many kids do not even get the possibility.
“Giving every talent in the world a chance is what our programme is about. To identify the talent in India, give good education and good level of competition to make great players. How long it could take, we don’t know, but without education we’ll remain where we are. Our target is to get India back on the map. No country has more rights than any other to be on the top. Our huge effort is to educate children to get them as good as they can be. You cannot start to play football at 15, you need to start at five or six.”
