Don’t consider Rs 2.5 cr to be spent on training as expenditure, but an investment: CM
Shillong, June 2: With an ambition of making a mark in football, the state’s Under-20 boys’ team is on a journey to France to learn better football skill during their 20-day training.
The Elite Training Camp for 28 young talented players from Meghalaya will be held at Olympique Lyonnias Training Academy, Lyon, France from the 5 to 25 June.
Flagging off the team’s journey, chief minister Conrad K Sangma said his government does not consider the Rs 2.5 crore to be spent on the training as not an expenditure, but an investment on the talented boys.
“When the file for this programme came to me, I assented without hesitation though the total expenditure for this programme is 2.80 crore, because this amount is not an expenditure but an investment,” he said.
Explaining the investment strategy in the youth, he said, “If any of you get makes it to the ISL in future, you will be able to get back the investment we have made in each one of you in this particular programme in just one season of ISL and that is how I see the entire process of sending this team to Lyon France.”
Meghalaya has a huge opportunity in its strength of young population and the government is trying to harness this potential by investing in various youth centric programmes, he said.
Highlighting the government’s efforts, he said in a few years Meghalaya will have about 50 artificial turfs with the largest football stadium in the country.
“Whether it is in human resource or capacity building of players or infrastructure such as stadiums and football turfs or support to football clubs and associations, it is a part of the larger vision that we have for the future of our youth and the state,” he said.
Addressing the players headed for France, he said, “Every single moment you are there remind yourselves of this opportunity that you are getting and seize the smallest opportunity to learn, to experience and to share and be inspired and motivated to strive for the best.”
Also present were Richard Yangtham, joint secretary, Sports and Youth Affairs; Saloni Verma, executive director, MBMA; Hamlet Dohling, president, Meghalaya Football Association; DD Shira, director of Sports and Youth Affairs among others.
The team led by Rimankhraw Kharumnuid (defender) performed remarkably in the U20 Nationals in Chhattisgarh and for the first time reached semi-finals in the tournament.
They also underwent a one-month coaching at SSA ground ahead of the training in France being organised by Indo French Sports Association.
