Indian football has just recieved a shot in the arm. After pouring in millions of dollars into European clubs and more recently into Chinese football clubs, Chelsea, one of the Premier League giants is playing center field with India.

“Our credentials are well known in the area of grassroots development and if we can find a way of working together in India as well, there is a real opportunity of making Vision India come true as partners,” Peter Kenyon, Chief Executive, Chelsea football Club told AFP.

India and China are two of seven pilot countries in the Vision Asia development project, along with Bangladesh, Indonesia, Iran, Oman, and Vietnam.

Under the Indian program, Chelsea could be involved in developmental projects in Manipur, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, where the AFC’s Vision India project has already been launched.

It is also likely to send instructors to India for coaching young footballers at the school level, and hold workshops for clubs on all aspects of the game, including dealing with the media and the commercial aspects.

“It’s an encouraging development for Indian football,” All India Football Federation general secretary Alberto Colaco told reporters last month.

In 2006, Kenyon spurred Chelsea to became the first major team to sign a agreement with the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), as Official Football Development Partner of the AFC’s Vision China project.

So far Chelsea has helped launch four of a planned 10 city leagues in the world’s most populous country, including in Chengdu, Wuhan, Nanjing and Qingdao. Another is due to be launched soon in Zibo.

They are also the exclusive football club partner of a grassroots talent search in southern China.

While China has already enjoyed limited success on the world stage, with several players now plying their trade in Europe, Indian football is still struggling to make its mark in a cricket-mad country.

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