28 September,2011 11:39 AM IST | | Agni Pandey
Indian doubles tennis star Leander Paes looks keen to promote football in India. The All India Football Federation (AIFF) senior vice-president Subrata Dutta has also shown intent in getting Paes on board as brand ambassador for the sport. "Within two to three days I will have a word with Prafful Patel (AIFF president).
Leander Paes
It will be a wonderful thing if Leander becomes Indian football's ambassador. "We want him (Leander) because he is a global sports icon. If he becomes our ambassdor it will be a huge boost for Indian football."
Paes believes his passion foru00a0 the sport makes him the right candidate. "It's only a matter of time, let's see how it goes. From childhood football has been my favourite game and I'm passionate about the sport," said Paes, who was present at a Football Players' Association's initiative to raise funds for the Sikkim earthquake relief fund in Kolkata yesterday.
Ex-India football skipper Baichung Bhutia, who is the pioneer of the Sikkim relief fund, could not make the function due to bad weather. Paes signed a football, to be autographed by all Indian national football players and auctioned, with the proceeds set to be donated to the relief fund.
