Mission Football
Meghalaya unveils
To further boost the sport in the hill state, the Meghalaya government is set to launch its Mission Football, kicking off with an exhibition game between a Top North East India XI and a Top Rest of India XI at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong on Saturday attended by chief minister Mukul Sangma and sports minuster Zenith M. Sangma.
The programme will span all 11 districts in Meghalaya and aims at creating a sustainable infrastructure for the game, towards which a sum of `560 crore has been earmarked over the next five years.
Upgradation of existing football infrastructure to full fledged stadiums and development of two state of the art football venues at the state level that will be able to host international football matches are also on the cards.
Close to 1,400 playgrounds will be developed with mini-stadiums coming up at the sub district level at around `1.5 crore per stadium. Additionally, eight full-sledged stadiums will come up in seven districts at an investment of `5 crore each. Ten grassroots centers in each district (110 in all) catering to at least 60 children with two coaches at each are also on the anvil.
Coaches and referees will be trained in collaboration with Fifa, the Asian Football Confederation and others and intra-center tournaments for Under-14 and 17 players held at the state and district level for both boys and girls to help identify talent.