New Delhi - In a landmark development in the history of Burmese football, the Myanmar Football Federation (MFF) will soon have a Football Academy to promote soccer skills of the youth – both girls and boys - in Burma's second largest city, Mandalay.
The Academy, which has been under construction since 2006 with an aid of USD 1 million from the Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA) under its Goal project, will be inaugurated by late 2008 or early 2009, the MFF spokesperson told Mizzima.
The spokesperson, who did not want to be named, said the Academy, which will have football fields, school buildings and hostels for youths, will be reviewed by the FIFA in November before it can be inaugurated.
"The academy is being built in Mandalay so as to attract youths from all parts of the country," said the spokesperson, adding that it was earlier planned to be built in Burma's former capital Rangoon.
The Academy, which is the first ever in Burma, will operate as a training school and players will be later marketed to regional as well as international clubs, the spokesperson said.
"It is to bring up talented youths, and give them a career while boosting Burmese football," he added.
While refusing to talk about the selection procedure, the spokesperson said the Academy will be free for players selected.
The Academy, which initially was supported by the FIFA Goal project, is being funded by several domestic companies that have sponsored the MFF. The Myanmar Football Federation is officially sponsored mainly by groups including Max Myanmar Company groups, Htoo Trading Co. Ltd and Kanbawza Bank.
Burma, which is 165th in FIFA rankings, was once able to dominate Asian Football becoming runners up of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) in 1968.
But with the coup by the military led by General Ne Win in 1962, the country plunged into an economic abyss, suppressing the football culture of the Burmese people.
But in recent years, Burma has shown a slight improvement in football once again and lifted the Malaysia's Merdeka Cup in 2006.
In an effort to boost the morale of Burmese football players, the MFF has also planned to hold a friendly match between former Brazilian national players with former Burmese national players on October 27 in Thuwanah stadium in Rangoon.
The 26 member Brazilian squad will include 1998 Brazilian team's mid-fielder Carlos Ceaser Sambario. They will reach Burma on October 26, 2008, the MFF said.
The MFF said the match has been organized to boost the morale of the Burmese youth as well as to raise funds for victims of Cyclone Nargis.
"The proceeds will go directly to charity for Nargis victims," the MFF spokesperson said.
Reporting by The The, written by Mungpi
