Shillong, Aug 22: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma had announced recently that the Meghalaya government will launch Mission Football 2.0 and yesterday Sports & Youth Affairs Minister Shakliar Warjri spelled out a few more details.
Speaking before yesterday’s Durand Cup quarterfinal here, Warjri said that Version 2.0 “aims to upgrade infrastructure at the grassroots level and will help to uplift local athletes.” The Department of Sports & Youth Affairs will soon release the complete Mission Football 2.0 document.
Mission Football was launched by the previous Congress Party-led government in 2017 and has largely operated without much fanfare since.
The minister said that several young footballers have benefited through the mission’s first iteration, such as Bonifilia Shullai (the only Meghalayan in the Indian U-16 SAFF Women’s Tournament team), Givenson Suting and Samwan A Lato (selected by the Bengaluru FC Youth Academy), Sanfida Nongrum and Fragrancy Riwan (training in Mumbai with Bhaichung Bhutia Football Schools). Several players from the Mission Football grassroots centres have represented Meghalaya in national football tournament, such as the Khelo India Youth Games, where the boys’ U-17 team won gold in January, he added.
Under Version 2.0, Warjri said that the salary structure for grassroots centre coaches will be revised based on what licence or other certification they hold. Coaches will also be afforded the opportunity to undergo training at refreshers courses to enhance their skills. Grants for coaches, support staff, referees and other officials will also be provided.
He also referred to another thing the CM had said earlier this month, namely that local clubs will be able to apply for financial support of up to Rs 15 lakh for their work in training young footballers.
(Representative photo)