Former Indian Football team captain Bhaichung Bhutia feels that Jharkhand has all the possibilities for promoting the game of football.
Baichung was in Ranchi at the invitation of ex Deputy Chief Minister Sudesh Mahato.He expressed satisfaction over the infrastructure available in Jharkhand’s capital for footballers..
Mahato,who is a footballer himself,and his friend MS Dhoni,who too were present during the launch of a youth leadership development programme ‘Hip Hip Hurray’ on Sunday.
The campaign was launched in collaboration with Magic Bus India Foundation and three more organizations.They are supposed to train 8800 boys (aged between 14-25 years of 4423 panchayats of the state) as football players.
Eminent international and national football players will mentor these youngsters in a three day camp scheduled at every panchayat in the next two months. Basically, they will learn about how to gain leadership skills by playing football.
Prominent local sportspersons from almost every sports discipline were present here. It included Dronacharya awardee Archer Purnima Mahato, U-19 Former Indian Cricket team captain Ajay Singh, SAI Jharkhand Coordinator Sushil Kumar Verma, Hockey Jharkhand Secretary Savitri Purty, Archer Mangal Singh Chanakya, TFA Coach T Vijay Kumar and many other former Olympians.
On the occasion Dhoni said, “Since long we were trying to create a spark in sports. We have struck right cord with the launch of this programme. If it is successful,we can promote other sports as well. Hockey and Archery are doing well in our state.
Notably, a team of 20 boys will be selected from every panchayat who in turn will train other budding boys and girls like them in the next phase scheduled in 2014. The final session of this programme is slated to be held on January 12, the 150th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda as National Youth Day.
