PM scouts for footbal coach in Brazil

On Board Air India One, Sep 12 (UNI) Brazilian coaches may soon be seen grooming Indian soccer talents back home with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh all set to take up the issue with President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva when they meet in Brasilia later today.

''Brazil's credentials as a football power are well-known,'' Dr Singh told journalists accompanying him on a nine-day visit to Brazil and Cuba.

Brazil is hailed as the largest exporter of players and coaches and in the Germany World Cup too, Brazilians Luis Felip Scolari and Zico were seen in charge of teams like Portugal and Japan.

Kolkata giant East Bengal has already signed a Brazilian, Carlos Roberto Pereira, as their new coach.

Dr Singh revealed Information and Broadcasting Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi, who is also the President of the All India Football Federation, had requested him to raise the issue of Brazilian coaches for Indian teams during his talks with Brazilian leaders.

''We must promote increased interaction with other countries.

That also applies to the field of sports,'' he remarked.

''If we are going to host the Commonwealth Games, if we are aspiring to have the Olympics in our country, we must improve our own capabilities in sports,'' the Prime Minister said.

''If such cooperation helps in getting coaches from other countries, I don't see anything wrong in that,'' he added.

UNI SA AY AT HT1607