Xtra Time Web Desk: Arsène Wenger, esteemed football coach and FIFA’s Chief of Global Football Development, is poised to visit India in the second week of October to solidify plans for the establishment of a central football academy in collaboration with the All India Football Federation (AIFF). The news was officially announced by Mr. Kalyan Chaubey, the President of the AIFF, following a crucial meeting held on August 19, 2023, in Sydney, Australia.
During this meeting, Mr. Chaubey and AIFF Secretary General Dr. Shaji Prabhakaran engaged in discussions with Mr. Wenger, Mr. Steven Martens (Technical Director, FIFA), and Mr. Ulf Schott (Head of High-Performance Programmes, FIFA). Their deliberations centred on the proposed partnership between FIFA and AIFF to establish a top-tier academy catering to U-13 boys and girls. The academy’s name will be decided later.
Mr. Chaubey expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “I am glad to say that we are on the verge of setting up a state-of-the-art centralized academy in India, along with FIFA, with Mr. Arsène Wenger playing a key role in the whole setup. I am sure that with his experience and our industriousness, we can set the ball rolling for India to produce future stars.”
This central academy will not operate independently; it will be bolstered by approximately four or five feeder academies, forming a comprehensive network. Mr. Wenger is expected to make an official announcement through a virtual press conference in September, after which he will personally visit India in October to finalize all the details of this groundbreaking football initiative.