Imphal, Aug. 14: The next World Cup football star could well be from Manipur.

With the aim of producing quality footballers from India, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has singled out New Delhi and Manipur as the “grooming paradise” for the first phase of its Vision India pilot project.

The main objective behind the project is to identify and groom football talent, beginning from students below the age of 11 years.

The project was announced in April last year, with the AFC zeroing in on seven countries, along with India. A seven-member AFC team, led by Bredon Menton, director of the National Association, had visited Manipur to assess the playing conditions there in April last year.

A national task force has been formed with All India Football Federation president Priya Ranjan Das Munshi as its chairman. Regional task forces have also been constituted to oversee the execution.

The AFC will provide expertise on the project, while the financial side will be looked into by the All Manipur Football Association (AMFA) in Manipur, aided by the AIFF. The AMFA Grassroots Committee will be in charge of overall supervision.

Altogether 32 schools in Bishnupur, Churachandpur, Thoubal and Kakching have been identified for the project.

In the first phase, only boys will be trained, but from the next leg, girls will also be included.

The formal launch of the Vision India project is scheduled for September 9 in Churachandpur district.