If anything All India Football Federation (AIFF) chief Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi never lacked, it is spunk. Whatever the final balance sheet looks like a year or two after his ambitious programmes ‘take off’, one can be sure one more, a grander one, is sure to follow.

The tradition has been maintained, as was revealed today. The federation, reeling under the mediocrity of a so-called professional league (the I-League), unveiled a Rs 100 crore programme, an international level football academy, in collaboration with Telecom giant Bharti Airtel.

With his usual panache, Dasmunsi explained how this could lead the country to the World Cup.

Work on the ambitious project—Bharti-AIFF Academy—is expected to start by March 31, “the deadline”.

At a media conference today it was also announced that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between AIFF and Bharti Airtel for the development of the sport in the country.

According to AIFF chief, today’s MoU is a “ten-year deal. The telecom giant is expected to pump in Rs 100 crore for the project.”

When asked what mileage is the corporate house was hoping to get from the sports project, Mittal showed optimism that India, which is not even in top 100 at the global level now, will make the cut for World cup. “This move will definitely gain momentum in coming years.

That will result in the national squad being qualifying for the global competition in 2018,” Mittal said.

The chief of the Telecom giant also disclosed that his company will want to be part of the I-league campaign in the future.

... contd.