India to capitalize on Blatter visit
Indian football administrators are eager to use an upcoming visit by FIFA president Sepp Blatter to give an impetus to the sport in the cricket-crazy country.
Indian football administrators are eager to use an upcoming visit by FIFA president Sepp Blatter to give an impetus to the sport in the cricket-crazy country.
"The FIFA chief will visit India on March 9, giving us an opportunity to showcase the potential of football in our country," All India Football Federation secretary-general Kushal Das told The Associated Press on Thursday. "The world body is already helping us a lot but we could perhaps ask for more quantum of support."
Das said the visit is also being seen by AIFF as a chance to push for India's case for hosting the under-17 World Cup in 2017, which guarantees the host's participation in a world-level event.
"Hosting the under-17 World Cup will give us a chance to boost the image of Indian football. It is not just about hosting the event, but also about the fact that India will get to play in a World Cup for the first time, which could inspire a whole generation of players," Das added.