At FIFA U-17 World Cup, a chance for students to have a ball

Schoolchildren to escort players to the pitch, become flag-bearers

Enthusiastic football players in schools across Ernakulam district have something to cheer about.

They will get a chance to be part of the forthcoming FIFA under-17 World Cup by escorting players to the pitch before kick-off and becoming flag-bearers of the participating nations before every match.

“They could also join the Football Mamangam by taking up the roles of ballboys and ballgirls. The initiative is part of the Mission XI Million programme that aims at enrolling thousands of schoolchildren across various age groups in the country to play and enjoy football. We plan to reach out to nearly 500 schools in Ernakulam in the coming days. Already, 325 schools have come on board,” said Adeela Abdullah, Sub Collector of Fort Kochi.

The schools partnering with FIFA and the All-India Football Federation of India will get a chance to host a football seminar at the start of the new academic year. The budding football players will get valuable tips from prominent coaches. They will also get an opportunity to participate in 4-on-4 matches. The young footballers will get a chance to be part of contests that will test their dribbling and ball control skills.

The students will receive master-classes from experts as part of the Mission XI Million programme that features a 360-degree approach to improving their skills. Popular coaches will nurture their skills by focusing on various aspects of the game such as shooting, free-kicks, passing and goal-keeping.

Ms. Adeela said schools that were yet to cash in on the opportunity had another chance. “We have around 175 applications with us. Many schools could not make it in the first round due to the final exams. They could contact the office of the Fort Kochi Sub Collector to get the forms and the football kits. FIFA would only be happy, if more schools partner in this initiative,” she said.