Kolkata: Host India created yet another record on Saturday as the world saw the nation has registered the most attendance in the history of FIFA U17 World Cup in its 17th edition. In the grand-finale of the tournament, England thrashed Spain 5-2 to clinch their maiden U17 World Cup title at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata. The whole world is praising the host nation for organizing a successful FIFA event.
All India Football Federation (AIFF) President Praful Patel too looked very happy at the end of a mega event.” I am so proud and so happy for India because it has put India on the world map and this has laid the foundation of many many big things to come in this country,” said Praful Patel to www.xtratime.in before leaving the arena.
It was the largest ever attendance in the history of the U17 World Cup as the nation broke the record of China which was created back in 1985 during the inaugural event of the competition. On being asked about the matter, Mr. Patel replied,” It’s not only U-17, it also includes the U20 World Cup. This is the largest ever attendance and that demonstrates twothings, first our ability to host such a big tournament and the second one is the passion of the game in our country. The public came in numbers to fill the stadium in all six venues and it shows how much football is loved and played in India.”
India currently has six top class stadiums, which hosted the U17 World Cup. According to the AIFF Supremo all the stadiums will be used to play football on regular basis.” All the stadiums will continue to be used to play football and we also have six other venues ready, so we need not have to worry only about the six venues and be happy about it and India should at least have twenty international level football venues then only we should be happy that the beginning has been made.”
India has also made a formal bid for the U20 World Cup which will be played in 2019. Praful Patel don’t want to comment on that right now and said everyone to be patient.” Be patient. What we have shown this time will give us good results. We shouldn’t be worried and I think it’s not too far and something good will happen for India.”
On being questioned about how bigger platform this would be after hosting such a successful U17 World Cup to bring the U20 World Cup in India, Praful Patel said,” This is the platform. I don’t think many in India would have believed what they are seeing, as we have organized the world cup so well. They should at least appreciate the work. This is not my hard work, this is the hard work of a huge team of people who have put all these together, worled day and night and really made the country proud.”