Ahead of scheduled 2017- Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) U-17 World Cup, the Minister for Information Technology, Technical Education and Youth Services & Sports, Moulvi Imran Raza Ansari today chaired a meeting of officers of Department Youth Services & Sports to review the status of football activities in the state.The meeting took stock of training infrastructure in the state leading up to the mega event. With India qualifying for any FIFA U-17 World Cup for the first time, the J&K Youth Services & Sports Department is keen to provide the best possible training infrastructure and to see its players selected to represent country in the tournament. Noting that most of the existing stadia lack infrastructure, the meeting was informed that about 7000 centers will soon be set up across the State to provide goal posts and other necessary equipment, like balls, kits, goal post and nets.The meeting was informed that around 100 new football stadia will be developed across the state in the coming days. While it runs two football academies at the moment, the department also aims to set up more academies.
There was also a suggestion that the State Sports Council should also have its own team as well as have assets to attract investment which shall eventually help football grow in the state.Moulvi Ansari directed the Department to provide all possible support to the schools which would help in developing human resource for sports, saying that modalities would also be chalked out in this regard with School education department. He also called for taking up sports activities in social media, saying that it would go a long way in boosting the sports activities and increase interest among the aspirants and sports lovers.The Minister said that the state has ample potential and need is to channelize it in right directions. He directed for hiring of more qualified coaches to develop greater interest in the game.Among other, the meeting was attended by Secretary, Youth Services & Sports, Hilal Ahmad Parray, Director, Youth Services & Sports, Sheikh Fayaz Ahmad, and Secretary, J&K Sports Council, Wahid Ahmad Parra.