Leicester football team to play in Goa

Indian football will get a boost when a team from Leicester, UK, tours Goa next month to play in the Spice Jet Cup as part of an initiative to strengthen ties between the two countries.

The team, picked by Leicester City Football Club, is part of an initiative called the Leicester India Football Link.

A competition has been launched for people in Leicester to suggest a name for the team, with the winner receiving Leicester City Football Club's merchandise.

''It was Keith Vaz's and Milan Mandaric's idea to do something for the community. So, with links already established with India, we wanted to take a team out there,'' Craig White, who is in charge of community football at Leicester City Football Club said.

''Hopefully, they will send a team back to Leicester next year. The boys are very excited about their trip,'' he added.

The initiative is supported by the British High Commissioner to India, Richard Stagg, Leicester City chairman, Milan Mandaric, and Labour MP of Indian-origin, Keith Vaz.

''This is a great opportunity to involve the people of Leicester in the Leicester India Football Link. The team will be well-known all over India and their name will reflect the people of Leicester,'' Vaz said.

''I encourage everyone to take part and think of an imaginative team name to give to the youngsters who are representing Leicester and the UK in India.''