'It is shame that our football players to train abroad': Praful

Bangalore, Nov 4 : Union Minister for Civil Aviation Praful Patel, who is also All India Football Federation (AIFF) President, today said that it was a shame on country's football players had to go abroad to training due to lack of infrastructure in the country.

Mr Patel was speaking after foundation laying for construction of Football Academy sponsored by the Federation DE International Football Association (FIFA) under Golden Project II at Bangalore District Football Association Stadium here.

"Due to lack of infrastructure our players were sent to Dubai and Barcelona for training and there is urgent need to develop proper infrastructure to promote the popular game. Infrastructure can be developed if state governments, Corporate sector join hands with AIFF as it requires huge investment," he added.

Stating that it is now time to take the popular game Football to next level, he said that the Academy, to be built at a cost of Rs 3.5 crore to be funded by FIFA, would give an opportunity to budding players to reach the international level as there would training and coaching by experts appointed by the FIFA.

He said that Karnataka was the second state to get the Academy after Sikkim and third one sanctioned by FIFA would come up in Andaman Islands.

--UNI

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