Promo song for U-17 World Cup penned by CM launched

Kolkata: The song for the promotion of FIFA Under-17 Football World Cup that has been composed by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was launched on Wednesday.

Aroop Biswas, the state Youth Services and Sports minister, Indranil Sen, minister of state for the state tourism department, Laxmi Ratan Shukla, minister of state for the state Youth Services and Sports department and eminent sports personalities from the state were present in the programme that was held on Wednesday in the conference room of Netaji Indoor Stadium.

Indranil Sen sang the song and was accompanied by Subhankar Bhaskar, Sujoy Bhowmick and Joy Bhattacharya.

Sen said that the song reflects the excitement and feelings associated with football. "At the same time the message of communal harmony has also been given through the song," he said adding that this is going to be the best song of the FIFA Under-17 Football World Cup.

Biswas said that the songs will be distributed among Durga Puja organisers and the song will be played in many Durga Puja mandaps.

He further said that the song has been launched in audio format and it will also come in video format.

Biswas further said that the Chief Minister is taking all measures to ensure an overall development of the state and similar steps have been taken for football and other sports as well.

The song will promote the international tournament the final of which will be taking place in Kolkata. The tournament will start on October 6 and continue till October 28.

The sports personalities including footballer Shyam Thapa, Syed Nayeemuddin, Gautam Sarkar and Bidesh Bose lauded the state government for its effort in bringing back the "football culture" in Bengal. They also appreciated the role of the state government in turning Yuva Bharati Kirangan into a world class stadium.

It may be recalled that Javier Cappi, Tournament Director of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the FIFA Under-17 World Cup, had also appreciated the role of the state government saying the facilities have been hugely renovated and Yuva Bharati Kirangan has been developed into a world class facility.

Thapa said: "The Chief Minister has written and composed a song for the FIFA Under-17 Football World Cup and it shows her involvement in all such activities. It encourages everyone to work more for the development of the state."

Footballer Prasanta Banerjee said: "We all have to be responsible so that no untoward incident take place when foreign delegates will be in the city to take part in the tournament as it would affect the state's image."