New Delhi, Nov 13 (IANS): Atletico Paranaense will look to developing Indian Under-17 footballers with the aim of incorporating them in their squad in the future, the Brazilian football club’s vice-president Luiz Sallim said here Thursday.
The Brazilian club Thursday entered into a one-year technical collaboration with the All Indian Football Federation (AIFF) to improve the U-17 team in a tie-up that will be effective till December 2015.
“Hopefully India will develop as a footballing nation with the help of our expertise and in the near future we will have an Indian playing in our team,” Sallim said at a press conference.
“We have one of the best youth development programmes in Brazil. This is our main goal to contribute to the development of Indian football. We can do a great work together.”
He said he is aware of the responsibilities that are associated with such a "prestigious" tie-up.
“It’s a great honour and responsibility for us. We are conscious of our responsibility to develop Indian football,” he said.
Sallim said his club is determined to prove to the Indian football fraternity that AIFF was correct in choosing Atletico as their technical partner.
"Maybe AIFF could have chosen more renowned clubs for this strategic partnership. We would like to show it was the best choice for AIFF to partner us. Our main philosophy is to develop young players and help them become better individuals."
Atletico have provided five U-21 players who are currently playing in the ISL. They have the reputation of shaping up the careers of former Manchester United player Kleberson and current Manchester City midfielder Fernandinho.
“Atletico has good conditions to develop players. We have all what is required by AIFF. Hope we can develop Indian football together,” he said.
AIFF general secretary Kushal Das said the idea behind this tie-up is to form a competitive Indian U-17 national team that will participate in the U-17 World Cup to be hosted by the country in 2017.
“Unless there is a competitive Indian team, interest in football won’t be generated in the country and we won’t perform well in the World Cup. Through this collaboration both sides will gain a lot,” Das said.
He also said that the Indian U-17 team will train for a “minimum of 30 days in Atletico’s premises” and the Brazilian club will travel to India to train and “participate in Indian tournaments”.