Navi Mumbai, Feb 28 (IANS) Chairperson and founder of Football Sports Development Limited and Reliance Foundation, Nita Ambani, on Friday said she has requested Premier League Chief Executive Richard Masters to host the league’s U-23 Asia Trophy in India.
Nita Ambani joined Masters at the Premier League-ISL Next Generation Mumbai Cup to sign a new agreement that will see the ISL and Premier League continue to work together to share knowledge and expertise in all areas of the elite game.
“I have requested Richard if the Premier League Asia Cup U-23 can be held in India because it will be a big boost for Indian football,” she said.
On FC Goa becoming the first team to qualify for AFC Champions League group stages, Nita Ambani said: “We are delighted FC Goa created history by getting a slot to play in ACL. It is a dream to see India qualify for World Cup in 2026. As you know there will be 48 teams and there will be eight slots for Asian teams. We are currently 19th in Asia and if we can be 12th in the next two years, we have a good chance.”
Reliance Foundation Young Champs beat Manchester United 1-0 in the final league game of the Premier League-ISL Next Generation Mumbai Cup here. On the win, she said: “I think it was a great game to watch. I stand for development of youth games and I think participation in such games is very important for our children. From India as well as from England and the exposure our children have got today is something that they will treasure. Winning and losing will happen in their lives but this exposure and development of football that we are doing is far more important.”
“ISL has always believed in grassroots development. At Reliance Foundation, we are following the pyramid structure of developing football at the base level. This year we started with 6-12 age group children’s league. Then in the middle we have the youth sports and then on top of that sits the young champs.
“I believe the journey is very important. We develop talent at the young level. This partnership will really help us in developing ISL’s grasroots programme and the youth programme,” she added.
Nita Ambani pointed out that this has been a landmark year for ISL with ATK merging with Mohun Bagan, the Premier League renewing Mutual Cooperation Agreement and City Football Group buying majority stakes in Mumbai City FC.
“It has been a landmark year in ISL. We had so many big things. This Premier League tie-up, Mohun Bagan joining with ATK, CFG investments in Mumbai City and now Goa making it to the ACL,” she smiled.
–IANS
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