Sleeping giant India slowly waking up: Sepp Blatter

Mar 09, 2012 |

New Delhi

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Acknowledging that ‘sleeping giant’ India is slowly waking up to its potential in football, FIFA president Sepp Blatter on Friday said that there is scope for other sports in the country besides cricket.

In his 14th year as president of the world football governing body, Blatter wished to see India as a premier footballing nation before his mandate finishes in 2015.

"To wake up a sleeping giant you need several alarm clocks. We have set up several alarm clocks. My tenure ends in 2015 but I won't leave FIFA until I see the sport established in the sub-continent of India," Blatter told reporters here.

Blatter, accompanied by FIFA executive committee members Zhang Zilong, president of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and Manilal Fernando, arrived here this afternoon to inspect the infrastructure in view of the Under-17 World Cup.

Referring to cricket, Blatter said, "There is space for other sports in India. Football is the world sport...we are really a strong organisation."

Blatter felt Indian football has made improvements since his first visit to the country in 2007.

"We are following very carefully developments of Indian football... have special people attached to India... have a FIFA development regional office in India.

He said USD 8 million has been invested in laying the (artificial) turf in places like Kolkata, Shillong, Bangalore, Mumbai and Imphal.

"Four regional academies will be launched in Kolkata, Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore. There will also be four regional academies," he said.

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