Jalandhar-made football used in Argentina-Venezuela match

It is a proud moment for a Jalandhar based football maker whose ball is used for the first ever FIFA friendly match between Argentina and Venezuela at Kolkata on Friday.

"It's a big moment for us as our football has been selected for the big game ever being played on Indian soil," Freewill Sports, MD, Rajesh Kharbanda said on Friday.

The All India Football Association (AIFF) along with the two teams found the football made by Freewill Sports fit for using in the match.

"Ours is FIFA approved football and match organisers and their technical staff gave a nod to our ball for using in the match between Argentina and Venezuela couple of days ago," said Kharbanda, who is in Kolkata to watch the historic game.

Freewill Sports, which produces Nivia simbolo football, has supplied 50 balls each to the playing teams while 1,000 balls to be given to football fans in the stadium.

Nivia Simbolo football is also being used in all the major football tournaments like Santosh trophy, South Asian Federation games played here in the country.

Kharbanda said that the selection of Jalandhar-made football for the international friendly would prove to be a big boost for the local sports goods industry.

"Certainly, the sports goods industry will get more recognition about its strength at domestic and global space," he said.

Kharbanda also hoped that the match being played at such a big scale would help play a vital role in popularising the game among the youth.