Sports Minister kicks off FIFA U-17 World Cup board meeting

New Delhi: Sports Minister Sarbananda Sonowal kicked off the first ever Board Meeting of the local organising (LOC) committee of the FIFA Under-17 World Cup 2017 at the SAI Headquarters here.

Assuring full support of the Government for the first ever football World Cup in India, Sonowal urged all the stakeholders to work together as a team and put their best foot forward to make the event a grand success.

Earlier, All India Football Federation (AIFF) president Praful Patel welcomed all the delegates and explained the significance of the U-17 World Cup for the overall development of the sport in the country.

Javier Ceppi, Tournament Director, LOC FIFA U-17 World Cup 2017 updated the Board on the current progress of the preparations.

Sports Secretary Rajesh Yadav, joint secretary Onkar Kedia and SAI Director General Injeti Srinivas then put forward the Government's perspective on the preparation.

Thereafter representatives from Goa, Kochi, Guwahati and Kolkata updated the forum on the current progress of work at various venues.

Also present in the meeting were Kushal Das (General Secretary AIFF), Shaji Prabharkaran (FIFA Development Officer), Subrata Dutta (President, IFA) and representatives from SAI, Sports Ministry and LOC.

The FIFA U-17 World Cup will be held in September October, 2017. Six venues -- Delhi, Mumbai, Goa, Kochi, Kolkata and Guwahati -- have been initially shortlisted for the event.