School children at the launch ceremony of the Kerala Schools League on Sunday.

KOHZIKODE (CALICUT): An AFC Vision Asia delegation, headed by General Secretary Dato’ Paul Mony Samuel, came away impressed after a briefing by the Kerala Ministry of Sports & Youth Affairs about the government’s active role in Vision India – Project Kerala.

 

The Government of Kerala is actively supporting Project Kerala and have established committees at the state and district levels to assist the Kerala Football Association in implementing and monitoring AFC’s revolutionary development programme.

 

The government has already allocated Rs five million (approx US$125,000) for the schools league which includes football equipment and stipends for coaches.

 

Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs M. Vijay Kumar announced that the state government would also allocate 25 acres of land for a sports academy – with football as one of the disciplines - in Malapuram district.

 

“The Sports Ministry has submitted a perfect report and I am confident that Kerala will meet all its obligations as outlined in the development project,” said Dato’ Paul.

 

He added that the momentum needs to continue. “This is the first part. The next steps need to be taken, because Vision Asia is a long-term development programme.”

 

“The KFA statutes need to be in order with AIFF, AFC and FIFA standards. Strong clubs and competitions need to be also established so that the players from the schools league have a place to go and show their skills as they mature.”

 

The Kerala Schools League was launched on Sunday and the project involves eight schools from seven of the state’s 14 districts, involving some 2240 boys in the 10-11 age group.