Jamshedpur, Sept. 22: The All India Football Federation (AIFF) would seek Tata Football Academy (TFA)’s help to set up a soccer academy in Bangalore.

AIFF president Priya Ranjan Das Munshi, who was in the city today for the finals of the JRD Tata Cup international invitational football tournament, said the federation was impressed with TFA’s performance.

“TFA has the necessary experience and expertise in running a football academy. I have not visited the academy for some years now, but I have been given to understand that it is doing an excellent job grooming talented footballers,” said Das Munshi, who is a Congress MP from West Bengal.

According to him, the AIFF plans to set up a football academy in Bangalore soon. Das Munshi said it has become important to open such academies which go a long way in honing the skills of budding footballers.

Apart from seeking details about the required infrastructure, the AIFF would also follow the academy’s method of selection of cadets, said Das Munshi.

He also had some words of advice for the TFA. “I think the TFA should pay more attention on the technical aspect of the game. The academy should seek advice from the FIFA technical panel,” he added.

On how serious was the AIFF in setting up a football academy especially when it was reportedly going through a financial crunch, he said funds would be arranged for the academy.

AIFF secretary general Alberto Colaso, during his earlier visit to the city, had said setting up an academy was not on the federation’s list of priorities as it was going through a lean financial patch.