‘PM, govt highlighting U-17 World Cup encouraging: Patel

All India Football Federation president Praful Patel on Wednesday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi “highlighting” the FIFA U-17 World Cup, to be held in the country next year, is an encouraging sign. “Only the other day, the Prime Minister of our country highlighted the FIFA U-17 World Cup as a major milestone for transforming football in India. It’s so encouraging that the Government at the highest level also recognises the potential of the sport,” Patel said.

Through his radio programme ‘Mann Ki Baat’, Modi called upon the youth to participate in the Under-17 World Cup. He said it is a great opportunity for branding the country at the international level, for which immense awareness needs to be created within the nation. The PM appealed to the students to come up with suggestion to take the game of football to every village of this country. Patel spoke while chairing AIFF’s Special General Body Meeting here and made a mention about the potential of women’s football in India.