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FIFA U 17 World Cup will be the first of its kind FIFA tournament not only in India but all the Indian sub-continent. Not only Indian football world, but all the sports fraternity is gearing up for this historic event. Prime Minister Honourable Shri Narendra Modiji has appealed the nation to kick-off ‘Sports Movement’ on the sidelines of FIFA U 17 Football World Cup to be organized during 6th to 28th October 2017.Along with Navi Mumbai in Maharashtra, Kolkata, Goa, Kochi, Guwahati and Delhi will be the proud host of FIFA U 17 Football World Cup.
The centre government has launched Mission 11 Million to celebrate this historic event.
On the same lines Maharashtra too is gearing up for – Maharashtra Mission 1 Million. The largest ever state level football and sports activation movement. Maharashtra will be the first state to respond to the appeal of PM Modiji.
This mission will be launched by Sports and Youth Development Department in association with School Education Department. Western India Football Association (WIFA) will be technical partner for this mission.
Following are the highlights of this exiting football/sports movement –
• Distribution of 1,00,000 footballs in 33,000 schools – 3 footballs each school
• Workshops-Seminars and train the trainers – over 7,000 PT teachers and also around 300 sports coaches – at all 36 districts
• 10,00,000 boys and girls will play football in September
– LARGEST SPORTS PROGRAM EVER AT STATE LEVEL
• Football Festivals – Before and During FIFA U 17 World Cup – all the schools and colleges and universities will CELEBRATE – FOOTBALL FESTIVALS
• International U 13 Championship – PM CUP – MAHARASHTRA’S GIFT TO YOUTH FOOTBALL POST FIFA WORLD CUP-
First ever InternationalU 13 football tournament. All ISL teams, academy-clubs teams in India and one club-academy team from each continent will participate. Total 24 teams will be planned.
State level Football Festivals and Youth Activities –
• Largest Youth Activation Program
• All across schools – colleges and universities
• Awareness about –
• Fitness – FITNESS IS THE FUTURE
• Nutrition – EAT HEALTHY STAY HEALTHY
• De-addiction – STAY AWAY FROM ADDICTIONS
• Developing Career in Sports – Skill manpower – FICCI says India will require 55 lacs manpower in sports industry by 2025.
• Football will be used as a tool for skill development
• Local Football heroes will be made chief guests at the events
• All the national-university level players will be felicitated
Month wise programme – July – awareness to all schools and colleges. Also, awareness through all DSO meetings at district level
August – Distribution of 1,00,000 footballs through 33,000 schools
September – 10,00,000 boys n girls all across Maharashtra will play football. This monthlong festival will be kicked-off on 8th September.
August-September – MLA Cup
September – drawing competetions – subject – football. 1 million boys n girls will wish indian u 17 football team all the best
September – Football Festivals all across schools and colleges
october – fifa u 17 world cup – d y patil stadium navi mumbai
December – january – PM CUP – First Inter National level U 14 Football Championship
December 2017 and January 2018 – Football Grassroots events at all the districts in association with WIFA
As PM Modiji expects this to be the peoples’ sports movement, Maharashtra pledges active support to this Football Mission. Each and every school will be the part of this historic occasion.
FIFA U 17 World Cup will be a small step towards the giant goal of making India the ‘Football Nation’.
From the well-equipped campus in Kolkata or Delhi or in Mumbai to the school where television, computer even newspaper is a luxury… only one ‘Mantra’ was a buzzword…Football!
Football is undoubtedly ‘Numero Uno’ sport of the globe. But above all, it touches billion hearts. That is why it is called ‘The Beautiful Game’!
India is experiencing this status of football, literary to the length and breadth of the country, from Kalimpong to Ahmedabad and Chennai to J&K. Likewise Maharashtra Mission 1 Million will encourage Mahharashtra to become the football state. From Mumbai to Nagpur and from Nashik to Kolhapur…it will be football all around winning the million hearts. The biggest state level football promotion and popularisation mission undertaken ahead of FIFA U-17 World Cup.
FIFA U 17 World Cup is believed to be the game changer. It is supposed to transform sporting scenario of the country. Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself, through his ‘Maan ki Baat’ has appealed the nation to participate in this football mission. It is also believed to improve sporting infrastructure in the country. Above all, U 17 World Cup is believed to incept sporting culture into this ‘Young’ nation. Certainly, there is no second opinion that this first ever FIFA tournament in India will be historic.
But, going by the sports record of this great nation, the big question needs to be answered – what after World Cup?
There is ‘sporting history’ to raise this question. 1952 and 1982 Asiad, Afro Asian Games in 2003, Commonwealth Youth Games in 2008, Commonwealth Games in 2010, India has been host of various sporting activities. But, what is the scenario after that? The so-called sporting culture has been dumped into the reports of the lawmakers and sadly, again and again sports is being back seated.
Why it happened? And why won’t it will be repeated after FIFA U 17 World Cup?
Yes, the questions have a certain logical space to be put up.
But, that is why; Maharashtra Mission 1 Million holds the key and has the potential to prove everybody wrong!
Everybody will jump on to the bandwagon of FIFA U 17 World Cup. It will be a grand event and will be huge success for sure. But, what after the euphoria is over? This is where Maharashtra Mission 1 Million will play a decisive dribble into the football popularization and creating sports loving society.
FIFA U 17 World cup is bound to create sporting enthusiasm amongst boys and girls. It will be necessary to create proper ecosystem for these ‘Football Kids’, scouting roadmaps to spot and nurture talent and take this movement to the next level. Maharashtra Mission 1 Million will exactly do this by working as a catalyst.
Come on maharashtra…lets kick a ball…love for football…!!!
