India Rush Soccer Club hosted the first edition of ‘Inspire A Generation Football Summit 2017’, holding engagements amongst important stakeholders to participate in the road ahead of the ongoing FIFA U-17 World Cup. The summit was organised in association with Mumbai District Football Association at Otters Club.
The occasion aimed to create a dialogue to encourage and inspire non-football minds and help them understand about the untapped potential India possesses.
Shaji Prabhakaran, author and former FIFA regional development officer, was part of the committee that discussed the idea of hosting a World Cup in India, way back in 2011; he explained the purpose behind hosting a youth World Cup and also about the importance of empowering Indian coaches as it holds the key to a long-term growth.
Meanwhile Henry Menezes, CEO of Western India Football Association and deputy chairman, technical committee, also spoke about how Maharashtra has taken to football over the run up to the World Cup.
Menezes expressed about the importance of establishing of junior-level leagues and mentioned that there has been a real shift in approach, whereby now district associations in Maharashtra have felt the need to nurture the football players from the age of four.
