Praful Patel sets football 'goals' for corporates

Plans to urge corporates to take adopt a football team

Union minister of heavy industries, Praful Patel, today said that he would reach out to corporate India and urge them to adopt a football academy.

Patel, who is also the President, All India Football Federation (AIFF) said that football is the fastest developing sport in the country, next to cricket and also has immense opportunities in social and business areas.

“I will use my personal good offices to reach out to each corporate house and urged them to adopt one football academy to deliver the next generation of football players,” said

Efforts of corporate sector in the game is visible, claims Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI). “The efforts are visible at the state and district level that has helped increase the number of participants and supporters of the sport within regions,” the industry body, said.

India has over 20 lakh football players, according an assessment by FIFA or International Federation of Association Football.  

Patel also believes that the game is suffering from the lack of stadia. “I will go to state governments and ask them to give us a stadium else the under-17 World Cup venue will not come to you,” he said.