FIFA boss wants to awaken 'sleeping giant' during his visit to India

New Delhi, Apr 13 (UNI) Ahead of his three-day visit to India from Sunday, FIFA President Joseph Blatter has said he wants to do something big for the country and leave behind a legacy by making it a football powerhouse.

''I would be very happy as the President on the road for the next four years that I could do something and leave the legacy that I was instrumental, not just me but FIFA was instrumental, to make out of the Indian sub-continent a true footballing country,'' Mr Blatter, who arrives in Kolkata on April 15, said.

Mr Blatter, who will be accompanied by a high power delegation including AFC chief Mohammed Bin Hammam, will reach Delhi next day and is scheduled to meet President APJ Abdul Kalam and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, besides paying obeisance at the Rajghat.

He will inaugurate the All India Football Federation (AIFF) House here and speak at a special Congress at Vigyan Bhavan to mark the 70th anniversary of the foundation of the AIFF. He will also address the captains of Indian Industries at a lunch hosted by Confederation of Indian Industries before leaving for Zurich on April 17 night.

Describing India as ''a sleeping football giant'', the 61-year-old Swiss, who is set to be elected unopposed next month as FIFA chief for the third consecutive term, told Indian journalists at Zurich that India must embrace ''football culture'' and go ahead to compete the best in the world.

''Two thirds of the world population is living in Asia and you have two giants, one is China and another one is India and when you look at the development of football in the region we have realized that one of the giants has not yet got the outburst of the football culture.

''I am sure its there and the talent is there and therefore it's not now that we look at India few years ago we started to think about India. In combination with the AFC where they started Vision Asia and Vision India, we are now combining our efforts to help the organisation in India.

''But before taking any measures, what can we do is to make an inventory. After our official visit I am sure there will be a technical committee who make a report on where we help to make sure that India do have a footballing organization deserved by such a big nation,'' said Mr Blatter who had earlier visited the country twice -- in late 70s as FIFA Technical Director and then in 1982 during the Asian Games, both with former chief Dr Joao Havelange.

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