By IANS
New Delhi : The All India Football Federation (AIFF) Friday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the organisers of the Portugal football league (LPFP) for the development of football at the grass root level.
“Now we will get full support from the LPFP to help us in grass root development programme, coaching programme and support infrastructure through our professional league,” said AIFF president Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi, after signing the MoU.
As per the MoU, there will be exchange programmes between the two countries. The Indian team will travel to Portugal next year for training camps.
“The training camps will not only be restricted to the senior team but the junior teams will also be taken for such trips to get an exposure. We also have some world-renowned coaches and Indian coaches will also benefit from it,” said Ricardo Castanheira, vice-president of LPFP.
The signing of the MoU was a sports protocol between the two countries on the occasion the India-European Union summit.
“We know the importance of football in our country and that is the reason we want to develop the same in India. We share a strong historic relationship with India. We want to share our experience with your country,” Castanheira added.
He also said that all the activities would start from March next year and invited Dasmunsi and AIFF general secretary Albeerto Colaco to Portugal to take the understanding to the next level.
Castanheira also stressed on the need of good football academies in India.
“We have good academies in our country and that is the reason why we have world class players like Cristiano Ronaldo,” said Castanheira.
The AIFF has a similar tie-up to promote football at grassroots level with Deutsche Futball Liga (DFL), which runs Bundesliga in Germany.