With an aim to make India a football powerhouse in Asia, German football club Bayern Munich today announced that they will set up a academy in Bengal to nurture talent.
The proposed centre will be known as ‘Bengal Techno Bayern Munich Academy’.
The proposed centre will be known as ‘Bengal Techno Bayern Munich Academy’.With the place already finalised — Burdwan — the state will get into an agreement with the German club in presence of the legendary star Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, who is also the chairman of FC Bayern Munich.
Announcing their plans to help the game in India, Rummenigge, a former World Cupper, said, “We want to develop young players in India. We want the country to become a powerhouse in Asia.
“This will be the first Bayern Munich Academy outside Germany. We will bring young coaches to educate and show how football is being run in Europe.”
Meanwhile, the state government has decided to build two artificial turf with synthetic grass at the Yuba Bharati Krirangan (YBK).
“Plans are afoot to bring in age group tournament and floodlit artificial turf so that football can be played all round the year.”
“There will also be a team of physio and trainers to look after the medical aspect. You never know may be in future we will see a professional from Burdwan playing for Bayern Munich,” the former German striker, who played against Diego Maradona in the 1986 FIFA World Cup, added.
Asked why he chose Bengal as the centre, the 53-year-old said, “We had a series of meetings with the Bengal officials and we were convinced that Bengal is the right place both in terms of quality and logistic point of views.”
He asserted that their motive was not to make money but to promote the sport in a true way.
“Our philosophy in partnership is different from many other clubs in Europe. They are going to China and Japan mainly to make money.”
“We are thinking differently. In 2005, a junior team of Bayern Munich had come here and won the IFA Shield, likewise Oliver Kahn played his swansong match here. These are the proof that we are thinking different.”
“You never know may be in future we will see a professional from Burdwan playing for Bayern Munich.”
Though the details are yet to be worked out the estimated cost of the project would be Rs 23 crore and it would start by next season.
“The agreement will be ready within two days. And we will get to know the exact investments details after that,” Minister in charge of commerce and industries Nirupam Sen said.
Meanwhile, the state government has decided to build two artificial turf with synthetic grass at the Yuba Bharati Krirangan (YBK).
“It is seen that in the monsoon, practice gets affected. There is proposal to build at least two practice grounds with synthetic grass. We have inquired that the estimated cost of building a synthetic turf with artificial grass is about Rs 3.5 crore,” sports minister Subhas Chakraborty said.