Aizawl, Dec 2: The first-ever Grassroots Football Programme was innagurated in Aizawl on Sunday (December 1) by All India Football Federation (AIFF) Technical Director Rob Baan.

Inaugurating the AIFF-Mizoram Football Association (MFA) Grassroots Football Programme, Baan expressed hope that the Programme would go a long way to improve the standard of football in the country. He was hopeful that more Grassroots Programme in other states will help India climb the ladder in FIFA Rankings.

The Honorary Secretary of Mizoram Football Association, Lalnghinglova Hmar mentioned that the Association is planning to become the power house of Indian football in 10 years from now.
He also thanked the AIFF for initiating the Grassroots Project in Mizoram and promised that Mizoram will produce more and more footballers representing India in the future.

Hmar said: “The Mizoram FA have been trying to popularise football in each district and village and State Government had also given us the much needed help in popularising the game. The success of the newly launched Mizoram Premier League has added to the popularity of football in Mizoram.”

The Programme has been designed for teaching football to children in the age-group of six to 12 years for a period of three months where 180 budding footballers would be coached by FIFA Grassroots Trainers. Football classes would be held after school hours.

FIFA had organised the first ever FIFA Grassroots Course, a trainer trainer's Programme in Mizoram in the month of October, 2012.

The FIFA instructor during the Course Scott O'Donell, the Technical Director, AIFF Regional  and Elite Academies, added: "FIFA wants to create a base from where talent can be spotted and supported. The idea of Grassroot Football is still very new in India. However, with the pilot project to be started soon in Mizoram, I'm sure that there will be many such projects coming up in the other states."