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Wednesday, Apr 04, 2007
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AFC's Vision Asia: Statewide approach for Kerala

Principal Correspondent

KOCHI: The Asian Football Confederation's Vision Asia team, which is now in Kochi, is likely to adopt a Statewide approach for Kerala, which is very different from its plans for Tamil Nadu.

"In Tamil Nadu, we plan to focus on two districts, Chennai and another district, in the initial stage but we're looking at a more different Statewide approach in Kerala which is smaller," said Brendan Menton, Vision Asia's Acting Director, during a media conference here on Tuesday.

The Vision Asia team, which began its three-day sitting with the Kerala Football Association on Tuesday, will be concentrating on the two southern States as part of its Vision India project this year.

Focus on schools

"We will be focusing on the grass-roots level, coaching, clubs, referees, football administration, competition management during our series of meetings here," explained Mr. Menton. "Developing players at the grass-roots and youth levels are very important. Ten to 12 is the key age to learn the game's technical skills, 13 to 14 is too late, so there is a need to engage the schools in a big way."

The five-member team appears impressed with the game's set-up in Tamil Nadu and Kerala "but it's very important to have sustained high-level of growth," said the AFC official. The KFA president K.M.I.Mather also spoke at the meet.

The team will submit its report to the AFC and after studying it, the Asian body will send its draft development plan to the Kerala Football Association by May 17. The AFC will then invite the KFA officials to its headquarters in Kuala Lumpur to discuss the project. "From today, in 10 weeks, we'll start the implementation stage," said Mr Menton, who hails from Ireland.

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