Brazil to train Indian footballers, coaches

Brasilia, Sep 12 (UNI) In what will come as exciting news for fans of Brazilian soccer, India and Brazil today agreed to cooperate in the field of football.

The Joint Communique issued after summit-level talks between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said this would include exchanges and training of Indian footballers and coaches.

On his way to Brasilia yesterday, Dr Singh had called for increased interaction with other countries in the field of sports and was open to the idea of hiring football coaches from Brazil for India.

''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.

He said 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.

Brazil is hailed as the largest exporter of players and coaches and in the recent World Cup held in Germany 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.

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