AIFF launches Mission 11 Million project

With China on a multi-billion dollar mission to become a soccer superpower, India looks set to follow suit with its own ambitious project ‘Mission 11 Million’ to awaken the sleeping giant of Asian soccer to match with its growing economic power.

AIFF’s new Initiative program called ‘Mission 11 Million’ kicked off today (September 23, 2016) in Goa. From about 50 Schools, Principals and Physical Education teachers attended the workshop. This Ambitious project is touted to be the biggest school contact program ever held in India, it will reach out to 12000 schools and 11 million kids from across the country, connecting all 29 states.

The activities from the program are supposed to be implemented in these schools from 26^th September and eventually a final festival will be held at the Benaulim Ground where 25 students from each school will participate. With kids aged from 10 to 18 years as target, the program will also aims at engaging boys, girls and special children to come together.

Talking at the event, Scott O’Donell, Technical Director, AIFF said, “It’s all about having fun and getting more and more kids involved. It’s about getting away from the Smartphone’s, laptops, sometimes from the books. It’s about having some quality fun time.” Adding about the importance of the 4v4 game to the teachers, “We used to play an 11v11game during our childhood days. But a 4v4 game will make the children interact more among themselves, and then only our purpose will be served.”

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The program will also work as promotional strategy for the FIFA U-17 World Cup and other grassroots programs. Scott added “There will be incentives for the kids and the teachers as well. Promising kids will be handed over FIFA U-17 World Cup tickets and much more. Even there will be endowments for the teachers as well, including an opportunity to appear in the AFC licensing grassroots course.”

Few months back when the program was still under plans, AIFF General Secretary had said, “The idea is to get at least 11 million urban Indian kids involved in football at various levels. If the FIFA U17 World Cup is delivered successfully in 2017, there is the thought of staging the Under-20s version in 2021, by which point Mission 11 Million would have achieved its desired objective of increased youth involvement,”

Javier Ceppi, Tournament Director, FIFA U-17 World Cup India 2017, remembering his childhood, conveyed, “It’s about creating memories, the relationships I forged on the football field have endured the most; I wish these kids see towards the game and how we are helping them to change their perception towards the game. For us, to be honest, it’s not a project, it’s a mission.” Terming the mission has ‘Swachh Bharat Abhiyan’ in sports.

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