Mumbai, Dec 12 (PTI) FIFA Regional Development Manager for South Asia, Prince Rufus on Wednesday said it is important for Technical Directors to be a catalyst of change in the development of football operations in their respective countries.

Football is an ever-changing game and with as many as 211 countries being under FIFA's banner, the confluence of cultures has brought about different practices to the 'beautiful game.'

Technical Director is an official who is responsible for putting in place the framework for the improvement of both coaches and players in the country and FIFA is looking to help these officials improve through an exchange of ideas from different countries.

"I'm sure the Technical Directors workshop will help all participants go back enriched to their respective member associations and be a catalyst of change in their countries," said Prince Rufus during a FIFA Workshop for the Technical Directors here.

Representatives from as many as five Asian member associations – Syria, Sri Lanka, Oman, Iran, and hosts India -- are currently participating in the FIFA Workshop for the Technical Directors.

Former National Team player Savio Medeira, presently the Technical Director of the AIFF, opined that the role presents a whole set of new challenges, especially with regards to preparing different approaches for a culturally diverse nation like India.

"The focus should always be on football, spread the base, improve the coaches, and in turn improve the players," felt Medeira.

"As the AIFF Technical Director you need to keep in mind that there are so many cultures throughout our country -- something that may work in one region, may not work in another.

"So we need to expose our Technical Directors to what different countries do, in order to develop football."

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)