U-17 Cup can boost India: Giggs
Football legends Luis Figo and Ryan Giggs believe the Under-17 Fifa World Cup will put India on the global map and could help build a strong national team.
Said Manchester United legend Giggs at an event in the capital on Thursday, “I think hosting the U-17 World Cup will raise the profile of the sport here. People who have not seen football live can now witness the best players in the world, the best countries in the world competing. It can give the whole country a lift, it generates so much exposure. Definitely the experience will help (in building a strong national team).”
Giggs was accompanied by legendary Portugal playmaker Figo at the launch of the second season of Premier Futsal.
Figo, who is also the president of Premier Futsal, agreed with Giggs.
Said the 44-year-old, “To achieve a professional level, you have to have talent, you have to train, you have to compete.
“To develop the sport, you need infrastructure, good coaches and competition and then it will be much easier to achieve quality.”
Figo, who was a member of the famed Real Madrid Galacticos, added, “We are promoting the sport (futsal) in India and in doing that I think we are not only helping Fifa but the sport in general.
“We are creating some modules to increase participation, to increase the interest and creating a base for the future. We hope to create more opportunities for youngsters to achieve what India does not have right now.”
On the role of futsal in developing football in India, Giggs, veteran of more than 900 appearances for Man United, added, “Tactically, physically it will help and also it will be more accessible — you don’t need a big field, you don’t need 22 players, you only need 10 players and a small piece of land... So that might help develop it quicker. (As in football) same things apply (in futsal) — team work, learning individual skills and also the physical aspects of the game.”
Asked if he would be interested in entering football administration, Figo replied, “Anything is possible.”
On the lack of support to futsal from the All India Football Federation, Figo said they will continue to work on their own but will always welcome the AIFF if they were willing to join.
They, however, claimed that the five-a-side franchise-based league had support of the sports ministry.