FIFA Technical Team visits Pailan
It’s not all about Lionel Messi, his Argentinean teammates and the Venezuelan squad who are in Kolkata for the International Friendly at the Salt Lake Stadium. Much against the background of the historic match, a two-member FIFA Technical Committee team inspected the Pailan World School on Friday morning with the intention of providing Technical Expertise for an Elite Academy. Thierry Regenass, Director Member Associations and Development Vision, FIFA, and Jean-Michel Benezet, Technical Director, FIFA, who were taken around by Pailan Group Chairman Apruba Saha, went back impressed with what they saw. “The facilities are quite wonderful. The best part stays they are all within the same campus,” Regenass told www.the-aiff.com. “The grounds are fine and there are is a swimming pool and a gymnasium, so much essential in such a set-up,” he added. “However, we need to work on more practice pitches.” The two Officials also went around in the kitchen and seemed impressed with the hygiene. The duo also inspected the Hostel rooms. “Education is an integral part in the growth of a budding footballer. The best part of the Pailan stays they already have a school within the campus. Intelligence defines a footballer. So we can never neglect the education front,” Benezet maintained. “FIFA would provide the Technical Expertise to the Academies,” Regenass stressed. “We would sit down with the All India Football Federation and chalk out plans sometime next week. We will also visit other cities and then take a decision. We are here to build the base.” Benezet added: “We will also concentrate on Education of Coaches while working simultaneously at the Grassroots.” The two Officials also spent some time with the Pailan Arrows Players who are presently having their pre-season training at the School-campus.