Blackburn Rovers will visit India early next month following the cancellation of their tour in July, it was announced Monday.
The club will become the first from the Premier League to tour the country, during a break in their fixtures, the online edition of the Economic Times newspaper said.
“The Blackburn Rovers Football Club will play in India on October 6 and 7,” a statement by the Venky’s group director B Balaji Rao said, according to the daily.
Blackburn, owned by India’s poultry group Venky’s since November 2010, were scheduled to play a friendly in the Pune city of western Maharashtra state on July 22. But the tour was deferred over security fears after the bombings in state capital Mumbai on July 13 which claimed 26 lives.
The team will now first play in the finals of the under—16 Rovers Stars that comprises finalist teams of boys from cities such as Mumbai, Pune and Kolkata.
On the following day, there will be an exhibition match with Pune Football Club, a three—year old club set up by India’s pharma company, Piramal.
“Security is paramount but so is our commitment to bringing Blackburn Rovers to India,” Rao said.
“And this visit could not have been better timed. The club is riding on a high after its big win over Arsenal and the players are eager to share their glory with their Indian fans,” he said.
Rao said bringing the team to India — ranked a lowly 158 among the 203 football—playing countries — was part of an attempt to develop world—class footballing talent at grass—root levels.
The group was also planning a training academy in Pune, he said.
