| |
Sports Minister of India M.S Gill will meet FIFA president Sepp Blatter in Zurich on Wednesday, to chart out a roadmap for the development of Indian football.
All India Football Federation (AIFF) president Alberto Colaco will accompany Gill for this meeting.
Colaco said "Mr. Gill has taken the initiative to organise the meeting. Let us hope something good comes out of it."
Gill, who was criticised by national football coach Bob Houghton for not providing any facilities for the game, is keen to work for the upliftment of Indian football.
This will be the very first meeting of an Indian sports minister with a FIFA president.
A sports ministry official revealed that Gill’s meeting is an effort to convince Blatter to give India the hosting rights of one of the big FIFA tournaments .This would improve the infrastructure and other facilities in the country.
Gill has taken special interest in Indian football. A part of national team's training cost for its preparation for the 2011 Asian Cup in Doha will be taken care by the sports ministry, has been assured by Gill to AIFF. The sports ministry recently paid the national team's air fare to Dubai and Bracelona to prepare for the Nehru Cup .The ministry has also approved Rs.100 million for 2010 Asian Games preparation.
