New Delhi: India football captain Sunil Chettri said Saturday that the 2017 U-17 World Cup will boost the sport in the country.
Chettri doesn't know how much the u-17 team can achieve but was confident that the country will benefit immensely from the tournament.
"I don't think about the reason (why FIFA has awarded the tournament to India). It is a huge thing. I am not focusing how much they (U-17 team) are going to achieve. I am happy that we got it. I just want the best kids of the country to be chosen. It is the first tournament of this scale to happen in the country," said Chettri during a promotional event here.
Chettri hoped that the sponsors will now come forward to support Indian football.
"I think they (sponsors) will come in. I think its massive It's not a small thing, it's a big thing. From the government to the corporate houses to the clubs to federation to the officials, it's all combined. For the money to come and the interest to grow everybody has to work together With the government coming in the money will automatically come," he said.
Chettri also stressed the need to have quality academies in India.
"We need loads (academies) of them. Not only from the federation but the clubs have to be more focussed. All the kids in the country should get a chance to play the game," he said.
Chettri, who recently surpassed former skipper Bhaichung Bhutia's record of 42 international goals, said his work is just to score goals. Chettri scored his 43rd goal in what was his 80th international match last month against Nepal.
"I don't want to use the word surpass. I am a huge fan of Bhaichung. I just want to concentrate on getting goals for the team," he said.
