By IANS
New Delhi : The All India Football Federation (AIFF) is all set to build a national academy in Margao, Goa.
"We have acquired a land beside the Fatorda Stadium in Margao and we will have a national academy where we can accommodate 50 trainees," AIFF general secretary Alberto Colaco said here Wednesday.
"The money needed will come from the FIFA's annual fund, which the world body gives to its members every year. Part of the money will be from the fund that we got last year and the rest we will get this year," said Colaco.
The world body FIFA gives $250,000 to all its member associations every year.
The general secretary also said that FIFA would help the AIFF to market football in the country.
"We have approached the FIFA to help us market football in the country. Next month we will have a two-member delegation who will come for an inspection. We need to have a good fan base if we want to market the sport in the country. We also have an MoU (memorandum of understanding) with the German Bundesliga and we are also looking forward to getting help from them as well," said Colaco.
Besides setting up an academy, the AIFF is also going to train 100 talent spotters in the country.
"We train the spotters in batches in all the zones. The philosophy of spotting talent will be on the basis of requirement of chief coach Bob Houghton," said Colaco.
Meanwhile, the general secretary also said that the ONGC International Tournament will be played from Aug 16-28, but the number of participants and the venue haven't been finalised till now.
"There will be either six or eight teams but that is not finalised as yet. We want to invite some good teams so that we can go up the rankings ladder. We have to gain something out of the tournament," said Colaco.