FIFA, in partnership with the AIFF, and with the support of the centre launched the Football for Schools project
October 11
FIFA, in partnership with the AIFF, and with the support of the Government of India, launched the Football for Schools project, which is aimed at broad-basing the beautiful game across the country.
FIFA Secretary General MS Fatima Samoura, Minister for Education and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Nisith Pramanik, AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey, and Secretary General Dr Shaji Prabhakaran launched the initiative for Football for Schools in India. The FIFA project also aims to reach out to over 700 million children worldwide; the programme would lay special emphasis on reaching out to all the tribal communities of the world.
The FIFA Secretary General highlighted the importance of reaching out to youngsters across the country and the world with the language of football and teaching them life lessons to make them better citizens in the future.
“Football is the language that brings everybody together. Whether you are an Indian, Senegalese, or Italian, when you kick a ball to a child, he will kick it back. One does not have to be in the same geographic zone or in the same community to be able to play together,” said Samoura.
“With the help of the AIFF President Mr Chaubey, and with the two Ministers, we have also looked into the possibility of furthering the Football for Schools programme in India, a programme that is very dear to the FIFA President (Gianni Infantino) himself’.
Minister for Education and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Dharmendra Pradhan hailed the partnership between FIFA and the AIFF, stating, “This partnership of the FIFA and AIFF on the Football for Schools project is very much in line with our vision of including every child in an overall education of the country. Not only will they be learning football, but also morals, and the inclusion of girls as well, are in line with what we envision. I can assure you that we will provide any kind of aid that the FIFA or AIFF may need to spread this project across the country.”
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Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Nisith Pramanik felt that this would bring about a big change in the nation. “I am very happy that we are working with FIFA to bring such education to children across the country. With the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we expect football to further develop just like all the other sports as well. Everybody at the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports is thrilled to assist with any resources that might be required within their power.’
AIFF President Mr Kalyan Chaubey thanked the rest for their presence at the meet and said, “The amount of work done after the pandemic to get the venues for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup ready is nothing short of incredible. With the pandemic also happening in the country the previous years, things were difficult, but I and very thankful that we have all overcome these challenges, and are now ready to go for the World Cup.
