MP offers to help Bhutia set up football academy

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday said his government had offered Indian football captain Bhaichung Bhutia to set up his academy in the state.

"We have contacted Bhutia as the Madhya Pradesh government was eager to set up a football academy in the state," Chouhan said inaugurating the 18th All India Forest Sports Meet in Bhopal.

Bhutia had on Monday said in Goa that he had plans to open a football academy and he can set it up in any state if he gets 20 to 30 acres of land.

The country has ample sports talent but there is shortage of resources, Chouhan said adding the state government was promoting sports and had made a hefty budget allocation for it.