Govt nod for India's bid to host U-17 WC

The All India Football Federation’s (AIFF) bid to host the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup received a major boost on Thursday when the Union Cabinet gave a thumbs-up to the project.

AIFF secretary Kushal Das felt that an incident-free World Cup might help the country overcome the embarrassment of the 2010 Commonwealth Games that was riddled with mismanagement.

Das also thought that “the bid would also be a boost to youth”. “It’s a perfect dais to prove that the global sport and India are closely associated,” he said.

AIFF has shortlisted seven venues, including Mumbai, Kolkata, Pune, Bangalore, Kerala,  Goa and New Delhi. “Pune could be one of the venues as they have the best logistics for an international event,” Das added.

However, Western India Football Association (WIFA) secretary Souter Vaz said that Pune’s Balewadi Sports Complex would need renovation.

“Building an entirely new stadium with international standards cannot be ruled out if we get the required amount of money from the government. FIFA’s list of basic requirements comprises a range of things, from the nearest hotels to players’ bathrooms in the dressing rooms,” Vaz said.

However, hosting such a big event will not come cheap. According to the agreement, the central government will provide Rs 120 crore for the venture, including Rs 95 crore to the state governments for upgrading the stadia. The government may also set aside Rs 25 crore as contingency to ensure smooth functioning of the tournament.

WIFA CEO Henry Menezes stressed on infrastructure. “We lack the amenities provided in international stadiums. We lack practice grounds. If these issues are taken care of, we’ll sail smooth,” he said, emphasising the need for world-class coaches, physios, trainers and ground staff.

“We have around 500 coaches in Maharashtra right now, and the target is to reach 1000. If we honestly address these issues, our coaches will be globally recognised one day.”

Former India player Syed Sabir Pasha seconded Menezes’s view.

He said, “We have had players of international standard. But the youth of today are far more passionate.

“They should not miss out on what we did. You cannot host an international event if you don’t have a proper ground. This tournament will be the game-changer.

“Once we win this bid, it will give rise to a wide range of spectators. The authorities should also think about strengthening the medical team.”

The AIFF will submit the guarantees for the bidding next month. The expenditure for hosting the World Cup will be borne entirely by the AIFF and FIFA, with sponsorship being one of the major avenues for raising funds.