Panaji (Goa): Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar has claimed that people have forgotten Football and have started playing Cricket, due to which the standard of the Soccer has gone down

“Goa has passion for football. What is the reason that we never reached that level of performance?” Parrikar questioned during golden jubilee celebration of nationally famed Dempo Football Club in Panaji.

“I think that it is because down the line people forgot the Football and started playing Cricket. That too not with season ball but with tennis ball,” he added.

Parrikar said that it is only during his last term as CM, that state government declared Football as a state sport and started activities to promote it.

“We (state government) created the hype at the grass-root level. We are trying to push for talent at grass-root level,” the CM said.

All India Football Federation (AIFF) President Praful Patel was present for the event today.

He said there are two basic concepts, sports for health and entertainment and sports for excellence. “For excellence you need to catch them young and support them till the end,” Parrikar said adding that many of the players give away the game midway.

The CM said the AIFF should tie up with the state governments to groom the talent.

“I think federation should tie up with the state governments. If you really want to get the best talent you will have to groom them not only when they are at the prime of their playing career but they should get guarantee that they should be supported during their struggling period as well,” he said.

“This requires a policy under which a player is looked after till the end.”

We can tie up with the clubs from Goa to ensure that these kind of things can happen,” he added.

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