Thaindian News

New Delhi, April 14 (IANS) In a bid to improve football infrastructure in the country, the sports ministry is going to develop the showpiece Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, the main venue for the 2010 Commonwealth Games, into a football hub.

Sports Minister Ajay Maken, during a South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) seminar here Thursday, spelt out the steps being taken to improve the standard of the game.

“First, we are going to lay down synthetic turfs in the states where All India Football Federation (AIFF) doesn’t have any infrastructure. We would also request the AIFF to give us the technical expertise to lay down the turfs. We have cerated huge infrastructure for the Commonwealth Games and we are looking to develop them into hubs for different sports. The Nehru Stadium will be developed into a hub for football,” said Maken, a day after he feliciated the footballers who represented India at the 1960 Rome Olympics.

The training of the national team and interntional matches will be held at the Nehru Stadium.

Maken also said that besides Nehru Stadium the sports ministry has also identified two more stadiums, with floodlight facilities, in the national capital that would be used for football.

“We are also trying to identify which of the 79 Sports Authority of India (SAI) training centres can be developed for football. We have similar plans for our 12 centres of excellence in the country,” said Maken.

AIFF president Praful Patel, also India’s heavy industries minister, said the federation has earmarked $8 million for developing infrastructure.

“Of the $8 million, around $5.5 million will be spent on laying of synthetic turfs in the country,” he said.

Patel also thanked Maken for helping Indian football.

“When you have a young sports minister after a long time, changes like these are bound to happen,” he said.