Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore on Thursday assured that the Sports Ministry would establish a world-class football academy in Manipur to promote sports activities in the North-east.
He said this during a meeting with a group of school students from Manipur at the Shastri Bhawan in the national capital.
These students are on a national integration tour organized by the Sajik Tampak Batallion of Assam Rifles.
“They desired that the Central Government to do something for the development of football in Manipur. There are as many as eight players from Manipur playing in the country’s FIFA Under-17 team. But it is pathetic that those players were trained outside Manipur. In this perspective, it is imperative that Manipur should have a football academy of its own,” the Union Sports Minister said.
The Olympic silver medalist further said that the Sports Ministry will join hands with the Manipur Government and develop a world-class football academy in the State/
The students of the national integration tour also visited several landmark places in the national capital apart from meeting President Ram Nath Kovind and Chief of Army Staff General Bipin Rawat.