The Bengal Mumbai Football Club has decided to promote the world's most popular sport in a big way and as a first step towards achieving this goal has named former star footballer Chima Okorie as its Chief Executive Officer.

The club also plans to start an academy for players between 13 and 17 years of age and start a women's team as well this season, a media release from the club's Managing Director, Krishnendu Sen, said on Monday.

The club, which had employed some top footballers including Nigeria-born Okorie earlier as a player, also has a big plan to build a soccer complex with all facilities like motels, food plaza, gymnasium and community hall on the Express Way connecting Mumbai and Pune.

The club, which has in its membership rolls former India cricket captain and football enthusiast Sourav Ganguly [Images], has also launched a new membership drive, the release added.

• Complete football coverage