Kolkata: On the lines of Atletico de Madrid's academy in Spain, ISL franchisee ATK is planning to build a world-class coaching academy to nurture young talents, here.
"Our plan is to set up an academy just like Madrid. I have seen that, it is the best in the world. We have a plan to start it for children in the age group of 6-10. We want to show them the possibility of a career in football, because internationally it is football which makes the maximum amount of money," Atletico de Kolkata's technical director Saharsh Parekh said.
At an interactive session organised by the Bengal Chamber of Commerce on the future of Bengal football, he said they would need investors and help from the state government for providing land for the academy.
"Our idea is to go to the districts, but we have to start from Kolkata," Parekh said.
Hoping that a soccer team from India would soon be a part of the FIFA World Cup, he said he was already seeing a change in the crowd during the ongoing ISL matches.
Cricket Association of Bengal's treasurer Biswarup Dey suggested that cricket grounds in the sub-divisions be used for soccer training.
"Football and cricket can exist together like brothers. Sports will benefit out of this," he said.
