English club Reading ties with Arunachal to hunt for soccer talent

Reading Football Club and the All Arunchal Football Association (AAFA) are in talks to ink an MoU to hunt for soccer talent across Arunchal Pradesh before training them in state capital Itanagar.

Reading FC consultant Tomo Nomuk, who was in the state a year ago, landed in Arunachal Pradesh on August 25 and says he is on a mission to expand Reading FC's banner globally.

"There is no dearth of talent in this Himalayan state and Reading FC would provide the expertise to hone up hidden talent," he said after holding a discussion with AAFA president and Lok Sabha member Takam Sanjoy here last evening.

Nomuk's view was a repetition of opinions of and Reading FC director Eamonn Dolan and deputy director Lee Heron today said that "There was no reason why Arunachalees cannot carve a niche for themselves in soccer map of the word," was the statement of Reading FC director Eamonn Dolan and deputy director Lee Heron, who along with Nomuk, were here in October last year, on being impressed by the performances of the young Arunchalee footballers reflecting potential and high spirit.

"Arunachalees proving their excellence in sports and games in national and global arena, we are serious to promote soccer with the GoAP attaching top priority to sports sector," Sanjoy said reflecting the commitment.

Chief Minister Nabam Tuki, who has been evincing keen interest in sports sector, had a thorough discussion with him for development of a world-class stadium in the state this morning, Nomuk said, adding that "We would provide the expertise and the coach but the GoAP has to develop the stadium and maintain it while using it continuously lest it get out of use".

Reading FC is an English professional football club, nicknamed The Royals, previously known as The Biscuitmen, which was established in 1871.

Nomuk further disclosed that he had a threadbare discussion with representatives of Jharkhand government for a tie-up with the Reading FC for ambitious plan to set up a Girls' Academy, Football Academy for youth on PPP mode with the Reading FC providing the expertise and technical support.

The Assam government is interested to hire a coach for which he discussed the methodology with Forest Minister Rokibul Hussain and Jintu Saikia besides discussing with a Manipur coach on soccer development in the state.