June 9 – Premiership club Liverpool have signed a deal to help develop football in India as it chases its twin goals of qualifying for the London 2012 Olympics and the 2018 World Cup.
The five-times European Cup winners has linked up with Abhijit Kadam Memorial Foundation (AKMF), along with a UK-based football business house, Kickworldwide and Bhartiya Vidyapeeth University to initiate a Football Development Centre in Pune.
This is the first of its kind initiative in the nation which aims to educate the populace about the football industry as a whole which includes coaching, refereeing, sports turf technology and sports science.
Ian Ayre, Liverpool’s commercial director, said: “We know about English Premier League clubs’ attitude towards the Asian market and they are being criticised for the same.
“We are here looking for a sustainable solution and build real foundation.
“This is not a gimmick or a marketing strategy.
“This project brings football together with first class education and an ambition to feed the Indian game.
“There are about six projects which we plan to unveil in the Indian market which will be centred on licensing, sponsorship and much more.”
Liverpool will invest in the project by providing expertise.
India, who are coached by former Bristol City manager Bob Houghton, are currently ranked 147th in the FIFA rankings.
He has set the team the target of qualifying fot the Olympics in 2012 for the first time since 1952 as a stepping-stone to 2018.
India qualified by default for the 1950 FIFA World Cup as a result of the withdrawal of all of their scheduled opponents.
However, they did not take up their place in the competition because FIFA demanded all players at the World Cup finals should wear football boots.
A number of the Indian players refused to abide by this rule and the team was forced to withdraw.
The team has never since come close to qualifying for the World Cup.
Kickworldwide’s director, Steve Bellis highlighted the need for infrastructure and branded the project as “genuine” which would help Indian achieve its goal of making it to the 2018 World Cup, which could be held in England if the Football Association’s bid is successful.
Bellis, a former commercial director of Stockport County, said: “The aim is to nurture football and talent, something which has never been seen here.
“Some of the best footballing nations have the best infrastructure, referees, players, etc. Instead of just helping the playing side of things, we decided to approach the market properly.”
All India Football Federation (AIFF) general secretary Alberto Colaco praised the venture and went to mention the need of human resource in Indian football.
He said: “Besides infrastructure, what Indian football needs is good human resource.
“We need better marketing people, qualified professionals.
“This effort shall go a long way to provide this support.”
Vishwajeet Kadam, who is the vice president of the Western India Football Association and managing trustee of the AKMF, praised Liverpool and Kickworldwide for helping them come out with this initiative.
He said: “In fact, when the project was conceived we, at AKMF, were looking at starting a venture of big magnitude on if we were able to convince and rope in a big name from the world of football.
“Liverpool fits the bill moreover their interest thanks to Kickworldwide’s persistence has enabled the Football Development Centre become reality.”