NEW DELHI: Mr. Arsene Wenger, the Chief of Global Football Development, FIFA and a reputed coach, visited the Football House on Monday, November 20, 2023, and had an interaction with the heads of a select group of football academies from across the country.
Mr. Wenger also had a long and fruitful discussion with the AIFF President, Mr. Kalyan Chaubey and Acting Secretary General Mr. Satyanarayan M on setting up the AIFF-FIFA Academy and youth development in India.
Mr. Wenger and his team from the FIFA Talent Development Scheme are currently on a three-day visit to India in connection with the AIFF-FIFA Academy to be inaugurated in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday, November 21, 2023. This is Mr. Wenger’s first visit to India.
Welcoming Mr. Wenger, the AIFF President said, “We are so very honoured and privileged to host and welcome Mr. Wenger. His experience in football needs no introduction or explanation. I can just hope and pray that he continues to be involved with India’s Talent Development Scheme project.”
“We have been discussing this project for nearly three months now. Mr. Wenger’s visit to India and his experience and support from FIFA, I am sure will make this project a huge success.”
Commenting on India’s football development, Mr Chaubey said, “Let’s not only develop football in India. Rather, make a space on the map of world football, where everyone of us present in this house today can say, yes, on that particular day, November 20, 2023, at the Football House, India, we were there.”
Mr. Wenger on his part, said, “I would say I was always fascinated by India. My target is to improve football in the world. And it is impossible that a country like India, 1.4 billion, is not on the football world map.”
“I believe you have huge assets, fantastic qualities that make me very optimistic about what you can do here. It is absolutely fantastic to have that opportunity. And with my team, we are really highly motivated to help this country develop in the game. I’m convinced that it’s possible in the very short term.”
Explaining how a well-oriented talent development scheme can change the face of the game in a country, Mr. Wenger said, “I was in Japan at the start of their football in 1995. In 1998, they were at the World Cup. So that means it is possible. You have to start early.
