In less than three weeks, India will host its first ever FIFA event where 24 teams from across the globe will descend on sub-continent shores to vie for the U-17 World Cup
Mumbai Warriors captain Ryan Giggs (centre) battles for the ball with Delhi Dragons players during the Premier Fustal opening match at NSCI Dome, Worli yesterday. Dragons won 4-3. Pic/Bipin Kokate
Mumbai Warriors captain Ryan Giggs (centre) battles for the ball with Delhi Dragons players during the Premier Fustal opening match at NSCI Dome, Worli yesterday. Dragons won 4-3. Pic/Bipin Kokate
In less than three weeks, India will host its first ever FIFA event where 24 teams from across the globe will descend on sub-continent shores to vie for the U-17 World Cup. Football has always played second fiddle to cricket in India, but Man United legend Ryan Giggs believes the sport, if received the right exposure, can emerge from the shadows of cricket. Giggs is in the city to lead Mumbai Warriors in Season 2 of Premier Futsal.
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The Welshman cited an example on the effect his country's performance in the Euros last year had on the football scene there. "In the Euros, my country had never been to a major championship for 60 years and they got to the semi-final. The impact it had on Wales as a country was huge, not only for the next couple of months, but actually a generation. So you have a generation watching Wales in a major championship, exciting the whole family and you will remember that forever. If India get it right with the U-17 Championship, then it will last for a long time, which can only be good for football in India," Giggs told a select group of reporters yesterday.
"A lot of things have to be right like the exposure, broadcast and reporting too has to be good. It has to capture the imagination. If the exposure is there and people sit down with their families and watch it, then it can have a massive effect," he added.
Giggs, 43, feels his ex-teammate Wayne Rooney made the right decision to quit international football. "It's difficult when you retire from international football. I retired when I was 33 and then played for another seven years. So for me, it was a massive thing because during the international break, you get little rest and time to recuperate. It was huge for me and hopefully, it will be the same for Wayne. " he explained.
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