Reading FC of UK to Groom Arunachal's Football Players

Reading Football Club (Reading FC) of UK has shown interest to explore football potentials in Arunachal Pradesh after meeting Chief Minister Nabam Tuki.

A four-member delegation from UK met Tuki yesterday at his New Delhi office and had a discussion on development of football in Himalayan state.

"Football is the favourite game in every corner of our state. Talent and passion are immeasurable. We need proper guidance, training and exposure and I can assure you of world class players," Chief Minister, a football player and lover of the game, told the delegation.

The Reading FC members expressed desire to do a talent search in the state and take under their umbrella sub-junior level players.

Selected players would be then groomed at the highest level at Reading FC football academy in the UK, officials said.

According to Reading FC CEO Nogel Howe, the club would send two coaches to Arunachal Pradesh for preliminary assessment immediately.

Howe, while narrating future plans for Arunachal, said if things work out, the club will take on the responsibility of propagating and developing the game by placing its coaches permanently in the state.

Meanwhile, the Reading FC delegation also invited Tuki to watch one of its matches in the ongoing Barclay Premier League.