145;Brazilian co-operation nearing implementation146;

PM8217;s initiative with President Lula paying off, talks even with Spanish soccer, says Dasmunsi

Don8217;t be surprised if you soon see more than the usual dash of Latino flavour or a tinge of Mediterranean masala on the football grounds of India. All India Football Federation president Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi plans to source the best from Brazil and Spain to give a facelift to Indian football.

8220;Our talks with the Brazilian federation for technical co-operation for development of Indian football have already reached the implementation stage. This will basically be a youth programme and should start by January 2007,8221; Priyaranjan Dasmunsi told The Indian Express on the sidelines of a closing ceremony of the first phase of the Delhi School league. The league is a part of AFC8217;s Vision India programme.

The announcement comes on the back of the recent MoU signed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Brazilian President Lula da Silva, for development of football in India.

8220;It would be a sort of exchange programme, where our experts and players will visit Brazil to witness what makes Brazil what they are. The Brazilian experts will also come here and train our people,8221; he added.

Unlike in the past, when such paperwork never translated to action on the football ground, this time the AIFF president has a more holistic plan for resurrecting the game.

8220;Along with the co-operation with Brazil we are also in talks with the authorities at the Primera Liga in Spain, to help us make a module to revitalize club football in India,8221; said Dasmunsi.

8220;The Spanish league is the best organised league in the world; players from all over the world queue up to play in Spain. India can benefit a lot if we can work out a structure that will suit Indian players and conditions. We are having a meeting with the AIFF top brass on Thursday. We will take a call after that,8221; Dasmunsi added.

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Dasmunsi also admitted that progress towards a professional league in the country has been slow. He said that only six clubs in the country can satisfy the guidelines of the Asian Football Confederation in this regard.

He did not name the clubs. The guidelines include own ground, a professionally qualified coach and a professional set-up. 8220;If things go as per plan we can turn pro by 2007-end,8221; he said.

Dasmunsi today made it clear that there was no threat to Bob Houghton8217;s position at the helm of Indian football despite the recent mauling at the hand of Saudi Arabia and Japan.

8220;Yes, we have not had results. But we never expected them against Saudi Arabia and Japan. It has not even been a year since Houghton took over so we have to be more patient. But his impact on the boys is definitely showing in the way India is playing on the field,8221; he said.