A Mission XI Million seminar was held in Rukmani Birla Modern High School in Jaipur earlier today. Over 1400 enthusiastic teachers, administrators, physical education coaches and school principals from more than 800 schools turned up for the event, a record attendance till date.
Speaking at the event, Project Director of the Local Organising Committee for the FIFA U-17 World Cup India 2017, Joy Bhattacharjya said, ‘It is wonderful to see the enthusiasm for Mission XI Million from Jaipur. True to our slogan for the FIFA U-17 World Cup ‘Football Takes Over’, we are indeed heartened to see the kind of response we are getting in places where football doesn’t enjoy a lot of popularity. We hope to now see children from these schools embrace the beautiful game”.
Seminars are an important part of Mission XI Million as initiating teachers and coaches with football is incredibly important. At the seminar, they were told more about the initiative, and exactly how to carry it out within their schools.
Post the session, the registered schools, academies or institutions were handed over football equipment and a technical manual that they could refer to implement the programme in their schools. In this manner, schools and coaches become partners in the Mission XI Million movement to truly alter football in the country. While children will eventually keep passing out of schools and academies, teachers remain and can continue the process with other students.
A Government of India and All India Football Federation initiative, Mission XI Million aims to reach out to 11 million children before the FIFA U-17 World Cup begins later this October.