Bhaichung's football academy to come up in North Bengal

Kolkata, Nov 23 (IANS) With the West Bengal government accepting his proposal, a state-of-the-art football academy with three world class grounds will come up at Siliguri in North Bengal, former India captain Bhaichung Bhutia said here Wednesday.

'When the academy comes up, it will be top class and among the best in Asia. The infrastructure will be one of the best with all modern facilities. Three world class grounds will also come up,' said Bhutia who went to the state secretariat at Writers' Buildings to submit the proposal for the academy.

Bhutia also runs the Bhaichung Bhutia Football School in Delhi and Mumbai.

'We have acknowledged his proposal. The chief minister (Mamata Banerjee) has already wished for such an academy and once she comes back (from New Delhi) we will discuss the issue at length. It is a gradual process but we believe within December (2011) we will be able to start off the elementary procedures for the academy,' North Bengal Development Minister Gautam Deb said.

Bhutia mooted Siliguri in Darjeeling district for the academy.

'It is important that the academy comes up in North Bengal. Siliguri would be the ideal choice. Though, we would be targeting players from across the country but major emphasis would on players from North Bengal and North East states.'

The academy will be exclusively for football but facilities can be availed by players from other sports. The grounds can also be used for hosting games like cricket, Bhutia said.

He also exuded confidence of bringing in requisite finance for the proposal.

'With this academy the Indian players won't have to go to foreign countries for training. A lot of money is spent on such training as we lack such facilities. At the international level we lag behind most because of lack of infrastructure but such things will be a thing of past when the academy comes up,' said Bhutia.