Amidst increasing popularity of the EPL in India, there has come great news for Indian football fans. British football Club Liverpool have proposed a plan to set up a football academy in Indian capital, New Delhi.
Delhi to be the home for Liverpool FC’s football academy in India
Former Liverpool midfielder Steve McMahon, who is a football pundit currently for ESPN, will be the man forming the main link between the Indian academy and LFC, as exclusively quoted by Times of India.
Talking to media about this matter and Indian football, McMahon said, “I’ve seen some fanatical support among Indian fans and that gave me the idea. I approached Liverpool FC, and they were very keen. We are very excited about the project.
“I understood from the feedback I had received that football is very popular in India. It is a first-time venture and we have plans to cover other parts of Asia. But right now, our focus is on Delhi and India.”
And the best part of the project is that it is going to be launched next week, as Liverpool’s legendary striker Ian Rush and McMahon will work hand-in-hand in getting the job done.
Plus, McMahon revealed that India may experience a pre-season tour by LFC in a matter of 2-3 years. He said, “In two to three years, the club may visit India. It is a huge market, a market to explore and it is in Liverpool’s interest to set up a base in India.”
Football fans in India, and players as well, would not have asked for something better than this. India has had its own history in football, but there have been no recent developments and there has come a kind of stagnation. So, setting up of the academy is going to be a big thing for the growth of football in India.
Its remains a point of discussion whether Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group have taken this step for the growth of football or just trying market their business in India, a country which has seen record sales in merchandise belonging to Manchester United in the past few years. Even if it’s a business point of view as of now, the setting up of the academy in a nation with raw football talent is a good sign as players will get an opportunity to learn from world-class coaches, while at the same time get a chance to play abroad after a few years.
Tags: Delhi, ESPN, Fenway Sports Group, Football, Football Academy, India, Indian Football, Liverpool FC
