Chohal (Punjab), May 29 : A local football club in Punjab has signed an agreement with United Kingdom's Wolverhampton Football Club to promote the sport in the state.

In a cricket loving country where other sports are marginalized, such an attempt is seen as an ideal way to develop the sport and bring it at par with cricket.

JCT Football Club, Phagwara, said the deal would help in raising the standard of football in Punjab.

"This is a very long partnership that we intend to do. Something that we want to sustain over time," said Sameer Thapar, President, JCT Football Club.

The Wolverhampton football club will help train the Indian players by imparting coaching to them and organizing friendly matches.

"We think the potential for Indian football is just absolutely enormous. If we can play a small part in helping JCT develop their club, then we will be helping this great nation in developing its game perhaps to a standard which is equal to cricket," said Jet Moxi, CEO, Wolverhampton Football Club.

Wolverhampton has a sizeable number of Indians and JCT plans to send their team there for friendly matches to appeal to the emigrant population in the vicinity.

"We will benefit a lot from practicing with them. England is very famous for football. We will get a lot of advantage from them," said Daljit Singh, a player.

India had formally launched their professional football league in 2007, with the objective of reviving the sport's domestic appeal.

ANI