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What's the story?
Manipur’s Chief Minister Biren Singh has furthered talks with visiting Belgian ambassador Jan Luykx to seek help from the European nation to set up a football academy in the north-eastern state.
In case you didn't know...
The state of Manipur is a hotbed of Indian football and has produced numerous International players in the past and many are playing at the top level even now. In fact, eight of the 20 members of the Indian squad for the 2017 Under-17 World Cup were from Manipur.
The heart of the matter
Luykx paid a visit to Imphal for a two-day trip which began on Wednesday. During the meeting with Biren Singh, he discussed various matters like the possibilities of co-operation in trade and investment, food processing, agriculture, tourism and smart city project in the context of the Act East Policy.
In what was during this meet that the Chief Minister expressed his desire to open a football academy in the state for the aspiring players with skills and ability to compete at the competitive level. Biren believes that such an academy would enhance the chances of producing quality players from the state.
What's next?
Manipur is a state known for its passionate football fans and that’s the reason which might draw the investors to take a step for collaboration in the future days. Time will tell if the idea is implemented, if yes, how much time will it take to start the academy in full swing.
Author's take
A considerable portion of India’s footballers at the International level have been produced from this state, some of which includes Renedy Singh, Gourmangi Singh and Tomba Singh. This year, Imphal based NEROCA FC played brilliant football and finished at the second spot in the I-League. Without a doubt, more quality players will come out from the state if an academy is started, which will not only help Manipur but will also be beneficial for Indian football.
