Aaditya Thackeray focused on unearthing the very best

Amidst the fun and frolic atmosphere shaped by the FIFA U-17 World Cup in the city, The Mumbai District Football Association (MDFA) has made a strong bid for the National Centre of Excellence proposed to be set up by the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and is confident of winning it. Aaditya Thackeray, who was elected as the president of MDFA earlier this year, revealed this at the Grassroots Development Summit 2017, organised by the Mumbai City Football Club, on Sunday.

“I have asked the government of Maharashtra to hand over one plot in BKC for us just like we have given one for the Mumbai Cricket Association’s state-of-the-art academy,” the influential political heir said.

“I have also requested the AIFF unofficially to consider our bid seriously as we believe Maharashtra has the potential to become the new footballing hub for the country,” he added.

The 27-year-old said that in addition to the Mumbai Football Arena in Andheri and the newly developed Neville D’Souza Football Turf at Bandra Reclamation, he was keen on creating two more facilities, at the Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) and in Worli.

The news will come as welcome relief for the budding footballers of the city after rumours of the I-League club Mumbai FC shutting down. The ISL team Mumbai City FC might also be the home for the city’s young footballers. “I have already sought a reservation in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation Development Plan for a football ground in Worli. The goal is to bring football back to Mumbai,” Thackeray added, focussing on the lack of players making it to the international team.

Udayan Banerjee, general seceratary of MDFA, revealed that the organisation was keen on learning the grassroots programmes of Brazil to understand how they have produced such top-class performers including Neymar Jr., Coutinho and Gabriel Jesus. “Over all the countries, we were interested in learning Brazil’s plan as they showed in the presentations. WIFA (The Western India Football Association) has their grassroots ideas but they have not done much,” said Banerjee.

“With Aaditya’s entry in the panel we have seen a drastic change. Mumbai has started figuring on the map of international football to say the least. Earlier, he was more inclined to cricket but over the years he has studied and learned football a lot. His power and contacts have also helped MDFA to create better facilities for the players,” Banerjee added.

Thackeray conceded that the Under-17 World Cup, beginning in India later this week, would undoubtedly give a massive boost but felt further development is the need of the hour. “Football is on the rise in India. We have woken up a country by hosting the World Cup. Now, it is up to all the stakeholders in the sport what we make out of when the World Cup gets over. How we take it ahead is important,” he said.

Mumbai City FC’s Grassroots Summit is an important annual date in the country’s football calendar, where the country and the state’s top administrators get together to chalk out plans for development of talent at the grassroots level. The summit was more engaging this year thanks to the presence of top coaches and managers from Brazil, England and New Zealand who shared their respective country’s development programmes.

Mumbai City FC gave a lowdown on the club’s initiatives, which included setting up development centres, conducting AIFF courses for referees and match officials and coach development programme and introducing the sport to municipal school kids. The club has bagged the best grassroots development award twice in the much-acclaimed Indian Super League.