“We want the country to be among the leading nations in the football,” he added.

Bharti Airtel will also sponsor the under-16 national squad that gave a good account of themselves in the continental level competition to qualify for the main round to be held in October.

For the Bharti-AIFF academy, Goa will be the venue.

Haryana was the other state where it was proposed to set up the project, but Goa was given the go ahead. “Support from the government is also important,” said Dasmunsi.

However, AIFF chief didn’t divulge in the details of the academy, saying it will be on modern lines. “It will be on the pattern of football academies in Europe,” he said.

The concern remains. Majority of the academies across Europe are run by the leading clubs and their professional team is the major financial contributor for its youth development programme.

But in the AIFF-Bharti academy project, the federation is solely dependent on corporate money. If they back out before the actual term of ten years, will AIFF have adequate funds to carry on the ambitious project?

VITAL STATS

Some of the of the salient features of the proposed academy:

• At least six play grounds for 100 trainees that the AIF plans to select in the initial phase.

• Budding players will be selected in four age groups — 8-10 yrs, 11-13 yrs, 13-15 yrs, 15-18 yrs.

• In each group there will be at least 20 players.

... contd.