Maradona bigger than Pele: Rummenigge

The former World Cupper Rummenigge, who is currently the chairman of the world-renowned FC Bayern Munich club, was in town on a brisk trip, to announce details of an academy that will be set up in a joint venture among Burdwan District Sports Association BDSA, FC Bayern, Techno India Group and the state sports department. The academy, which will be launched at the far-away village of Jhinguti near Burdwan town, will see the heavyweight German club providing technical support.

8220;This academy is going to be FC Bayern8217;s first set-up away from home,8221; announced Rummenigge, chairman of the world-renowned football club.

Rummenigge8217;s visit, which is expected to be followed next month by the high-profile trip of Maradona, is being seen as part of a healthy developmental initiative taken by the Left Front state government these days.

Just days back, CPIM Member of Parliament Shamik Lahiri announced the itinerary of the legendary Maradona8217;s whistlestop tour. The Argentine great will inaugurate a world-class football school in South 24-Parganas. And today, it was the turn of state industry and commerce minister Nirupam Sen to unfurl the Rummenigge project.

A Memorundum of Understanding MoU is yet to be signed, but Rummenigge made it clear that FC Bayern would prove all the necessary technical support on a long-term basis and will closely monitor the progress of the academy, which will be called the Bengal Techno Bayern Academy BTBA. The Sports Authority of India8217;s SAI Burdwan centre has provided a 23-acre plot of land for the football school.

Even as he rattled off details of the project, Rummenigge wished Maradona good luck over his new innings as national coach of the senior Argentine team. 8220;Talking about Maradona, It was great to play alongside him in two editions of the World Cup 1982 and 1986. I pray for his success as the national coach of Argentina. We are still great friends, and I believe he is so passionate about the game that he is bound to get success,8221; Rummenigge said.

In fact, Rummenigge feels Maradona was a greater player than Brazil8217;s Pele. 8220;Maradona played in various clubs outside his country. But Pele confined himself to only Brazil for almost his career. And the scenario was not that tough during Pele8217;s time,8221; Rummenigge said.

As for the new initiative in Bengal, the FC Bayern chairman explained: 8220;We are different from the European clubs. We generally do not aim at short-term partnerships and immediate financial gains. Our philosophy is to build up the infrastructure and create a pool of potential kids. From that point of view, I feel India is one of the biggest resources in terms of soccer, and it needs to improve the standard of the game, so that it can one day participate in the World Cup, and not just be content with playing the World Cup qualifiers.8221;

FC Bayern, as Rummenigge outlined, will nurture the academy students through its own unit of coaches. In addition, the club will train hand-picked Indian coaches of the BTBA. Rummenigge said: 8220;Some promising boys from this academy could also be picked and taken to FC Bayern8217;s own academy for training and they can also be given the scope to appear at trials for FC Bayern.8221;

However, the organisers stayed away from revealing details of the costs that would be incurred in initiating the entire project. Nirupam Sen revealed other details, saying: 8220;We will have five grounds where two will have artificial grass. Apart from floodlights at each ground, the academy will have a rehabilitation centre, gyms and a school for the academy kids.8221; Techno India will construct the school and foot the bills for five years, which could come to Rs 5 crore per year.