Punjab to get world-class football academy

UK's premier Southhall Football Club will jointly set up an international level football academy with Cordia Institutes at its campus at Sanghol in Punjab.

Cordia Institutes Chairman Diljit Rana told IANS that the objective was to build a world class academy with facilities comparable to the very best in the world.

"Sports is the only medium through which we can engage our youth not only to lead a healthy life but also in encouraging them to stay away from anti-social activities," he said in an interview.

The academy is proposed to be set up at Sanghol in Fatehgarh Sahib district.

Spread over 10 acres, the club will offer sports facilities of high standards.

According to the proposal, the academy would recruit the best talent from across India at under 11 years level to build a core group of the most talented players for the future of the India national team.

A former footballer who played for East London Club, Tommy Taylor would head the academy.

"By building footballing skills and competence from the ground up over a number of years, India should take its rightful place at the top table of the footballing elite on a sustainable basis," Rana said.

--IANS

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