------------------------------------------------------- CONVENTION OF THE GOAN DIASPORA FROM GOA INTO THE WORLD Lisbon, Portugal June 15-17, 2007 Details at: http://www.casadegoa.org -------------------------------------------------------
Get ready to feast on Brazilian soccer in India Indo-Asian News Service New Delhi, June 8 (IANS) Soccer solidarity is set to give a big kick to India-Brazil ties as Clube dos 13 - an umbrella organisation of Brazil's top 20 clubs - gets ready to telecast Brazilian football matches in India. Fabio Andre Koff, president of Clube dos 13, who came with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva to India early this week, held talks with Information and Broadcasting Minister and All India Football Federation (AIFF) president Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi on promoting soccer in India. One can expect an agreement soon on allowing Brazilian football matches to be telecast in India, New Delhi's ambassador to Brasilia Hardeep Singh Puri told IANS. Koff and his team will send the draft of the proposed memorandum of understanding on developing soccer in India from Brasilia later this month. Once AIFF clears it, the agreement can happen as early as next month, AIFF sources told IANS. What it means for soccer fanatics in India is a veritable feast - they can now hope to watch legendary clubs like Vasco Da Gama, Corinthians, Santos of Pele fame and Palmeiras in action while sitting continents away. Ronaldo, Robinho, Ronaldinho are some of Brazilian soccer superstars who have a cult-like status among soccer enthusiasts. The telecasting of soccer matches is part of a broader pact to develop the sport in which India is ranked 165th globally by the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA). Holding football clinics, coaching and nurturing of Indian talent, specially the youth and exchange of coaches involved with various clubs are part of the grand game plan to bring people of the two distant countries closer culturally. When Prime Minister Manmohan Singh visited Brazil last September, he specifically brought up the issue of Brazilian help in improving the standard of Indian football with President Lula and the current moves are a follow up of that. Cruzeiro, one of Brazil's top clubs, is also engaged in talks with football authorities here to train Indian players at their academy in Brazil. The club is also planning to set up an academy here but talks are at a nascent stage, sources said. ------------------------------------------------------- Goanet recommends, and is proud to be associated with, 'Domnic's Goa' - A nostalgic romp through a bygone era. This book is the perfect gift for any Goan, or anyone wanting to understand Goa. Distributed locally by Broadway, near Caculo Island, Panjim & internationally by OtherIndiaBookStore.Com. For trade enquiries contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] -------------------------------------------------------
