Guwahati: John Abraham, the owner of NorthEast United FC, expressed his appreciation for Nita Ambani, the Chairperson of Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL), for her proactive involvement in the development of Indian football.
Speaking on the sidelines of NorthEast United FC’s 2-1 victory over Jamshedpur FC last evening, he commended FSDL's efforts and emphasized the shared goal of elevating the sport of football in India to meet global standards.
“I am very thankful to Mrs. Nita Ambani. She has been fantastically proactive and personally involved in this process. Everyone in the team has been fantastic, and been helpful and supportive. Their contribution has been invaluable. We want to take football to a certain level. It’s not just about NorthEast United FC, honestly, it’s about Indian football. For that, I wish that all clubs do well and that our local talents shine,” Abraham said during an interaction.
Abraham also praised the contributions of the Reliance Foundation Youth Sports (RFYS) in nurturing grassroots sports in the country and expanding its presence specifically in the Northeast region.
He highlighted the positive impact of RFYS and other initiatives like the Reliance Foundation Development League (RFDL) in providing opportunities and a platform for players to showcase their talents through increased access to competitive playing time.
“First, I want to give credit to Reliance and the Reliance Foundation Youth Sports for contributing to this process. I think all the clubs, including NEUFC through our grassroots program have contributed as much as we can to this process. We are grateful for completing 10 years and looking at another fantastic 10 years ahead,” Abraham said.
He added, “When your players need to play a pre-requisite number of matches and they can’t play those matches in a year. Reliance Foundation comes in and gives us that platform, to keep our players fit, to keep them playing around the clock. There is a wealth of talent pool that comes from the foundation, it comes from us and goes to the foundation as well, vice-versa. So, I think it’s a give and take process.”
The RFYS, with over 24,000 young athletes participating from across India in the 2023-24 football season, is working to promote equal participation across both genders, including the introduction of the U-15 girls' category.
The RFDL, in its second season, involved nearly 60 Indian clubs, leading to more matches and improved competitive playing experiences for players, which is essential in bringing Indian football up to international standards. (UNI)