Discussion About Indian Football

[Srinivas_K]

Winning 1983 cricket world cup has made Cricket as India's favorite sport, from then on it continued to dominate. An ideal start would be winning a title in Asia may be bronze or some thing which will trigger the interest of many Indians.

Wrestling was not considered a glamour sport until recently when Sushil Kumar won a medal, Now there are academies and people who are showing interest in this sport.

The incentives provided by GOI also helped in this regard.

What ails Indian football?
NOVY KAPADIA

LINK: frontline.in/static/html/fl1914/19140120.htm

 

[Abhijeet Dey]

Winning 1983 cricket world cup has made Cricket as India's favorite sport, from then on it continued to dominate. An ideal start would be winning a title in Asia may be bronze or some thing which will trigger the interest of many Indians.

Wrestling was not considered a glamour sport until recently when Sushil Kumar won a medal, Now there are academies and people who are showing interest in this sport.

The incentives provided by GOI also helped in this regard.

Okay but as we all know unofficialy football is the second most played sport in India after Cricket. If you go to West Bengal, Sikkim, Kerala or North eastern states there are many old football clubs with talented players which have the potential to reach in the level of world class standards. India has the second largest population in the world but still it cannot produce a decent football team with world class standards.

As you know FIFA World Cup is going to start this year. People in India & indian TV channels would ask former Indian players such as Bhaichung Bhutia the problems being faced by football in India. But I think people in this country should also be held responsible for this (my view) for giving too much importance to Cricket.

Therefore my fellow Indians should open up their minds (like how we were able to send a mission to Mars) and start investing money in football other than Cricket.

 

[Abhijeet Dey]

FICCI's GOAL 2014: Establishing football academies & soccer schools in India

LINK: goal.com/en-india/news/136/india/2014/02/08/4602366/ficcis-goal-2014-establishing-football-academies-soccer

FICCI are conducting an International Convention on Football Business on 13 & 14 February in New Delhi and here's what will be discussed in the second session..

The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) are organizing an International Convention on Football Business on 13 and 14 February at the Federation House in New Delhi with the support of the All India Football Federation (AIFF).

The second session will be a panel discussion on the topic - "Establishing Football Academies & Soccer Schools in India: Benefits, Opportunities & Challenges."

Youth development plays a critical role in supporting young adults in reaching their potential as players and citizens in addition to building a strong football culture. With this in mind, many corporate entities in India have chosen to invest crores into establishing residential football academies and soccer school programmes over the past few decades.

While some have enlisted high profile international clubs as technical partners and others have built their programmes on their own, the core objectives of these organizations remain the same: develop footballers who can compete at the international level and raise the level of Indian football as a whole.

During this session, owners and senior management of some of India's top youth football programmes will share their personal experiences of establishing an Academy or Soccer School in the country.

Key note Address by: Mr. Sanjiv Paul, Chairman, FICCI Sports Committee, and MD, TATA Metaliks

Moderated by: Mr. Neel Shah, Director, Libero Sports India

Panelists:

Mr. Rajesh Jain, Director, Conscient Infrastructure & Owner, FCBEscola India/Conscient Football
Mr. Shirish Kulkarni, President, Liverpool International Football Academy, DSK Shivajians
Mr. Vivek Sethia, CEO, India On Track & Arsenal Soccer Schools India
Mr. Larsing Ming Sawyan, President, MFA & MD, Shillong Lajong FC

Guys what should FICCI discuss (in this convention or meeting) on how to improve football in India? Do we require billions of dollars?

 

[Abhijeet Dey]

Can India ever learn to love football?

LINK: bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-26143796

Fifa president Sepp Blatter once called India the 'sleeping giant' of football. With the world's second largest population, many feel India is under represented in the world's most popular sport. For One Square Mile, Tim Samuels set out to see if India can ever learn to play and love the beautiful game.

If the kids playing cricket on a piece of rural scrubland are anything to go by, then the omens are not good.

"Football is trash," shouts one young boy, no more than ten years old.

Indeed, none of the dozen or so youngsters has even heard of Barcelona, Liverpool or the Manchester clubs. There is not a flicker of recognition at the names Messi or Ronaldo.

What makes this all the more ominous for those championing football in India is that the kids are playing cricket on a piece of land barely a mile (kilometre) or two from the training ground of the local football club Pune FC, a team which plays in India's top league.

The challenge for football is considerable, notwithstanding a TV fan base for international football of some 80 million.

Despite its British imperial heritage and potential pool of talent among its 1.2 billion population, India has a distinct lack of footballing prowess, at least for its home-grown talent.

Currently the national team languishes in 156th spot in Fifa's rankings, tied with Liechtenstein (population 36,000) and just below St Vincent and the Grenadines (population 103,000).

Though India qualified in 1950, they have never actually made it to the World Cup. They refused to participate, partly because it would have meant their normally barefoot team having to wear football boots.

Not a single player in the current national squad plays for any of the big teams outside their home country.

But there are serious moves afoot to ignite a footballing passion in India.
..................................

 

[Abhijeet Dey]

It is for administrators to take football forward in India: FIFA official

LINK: dnaindia.com/sport/report-it-is-for-administrators-to-take-football-forward-in-india-fifa-official-1964042

FIFA representatives including deputy director of competitions, Inaki Alvarez, visited Balewadi Sports Complex, one of the venues for the Under-17 World Cup to be held in 2017.

Briefing the media, Alvarez said that it would be one of the biggest football carnivals India would ever witness. "This will not only give a boost to this beautiful game but also provide opportunities on many folds for the country," he said.

Alvarez inspected the venue for more than two hours along with the All India Football Federation representatives, and other FIFA members. Among the others were Vijay Parthasarthy, competitions manager, and Dr Shaji Prabhakaran from FIFA while the AIFF was represented Anil Kamat, AGS, Competitions.

Alvarez added that there was ample potential in India but it was for the people running the game to take it forward.

When asked why India were picked up as the host, Alvarez said that FIFA had been eyeing the country for a while, and with people coming forward to promote the game, it saw the world governing body opting for this country.

The FIFA team inspected the ground measurement, viewed it from the stands, visited the VIP lounge, dressing rooms, and the adjacent practice ground.

Alvarez would submit his report to FIFA and the host country would have to meet all the requirements as per the norms of the world body.

Meanwhile, Anil Kamat, assistant general secretary and director competition of AIFF, said that this was FIFA's first visit and the list of requirements would be sent back after their meeting to be held in March.

"We will come to know about the drawbacks of the venues. FIFA would decide what all is required and the host country will have to meet it," said Kamat.

The team would visit DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai before trvaelling to Goa. Also, Mumbai, Kochi, Bangalore, Guwahati, Kolkata and New Delhi are in the delegation's itinerary.

 

[Abhijeet Dey]

What do you think of upcoming Indian Football Super League in 2014?

The league is set to kick-off in September 2014 and finish its first season in November of that year.It is expected to be competed between eight franchises with each team featuring one major marquee player.

So far the names already confirmed to be auctioned in November are famous international players such as Dwight Yorke, Fredrik Ljungberg, Robert Pirès, Louis Saha, and Hernán Crespo.

Managers confirmed so far include Peter Schmeichel, Marcel Desailly and Kenny Dalglish.

The league is expected to be run along the lines of the Indian Premier League of cricket and Major League Soccer of the United States.

Each team would have a roster of 22 players each which would contain 10 foreigners, 8 domestic Indian players, and 4 local Indian players.

Source link: Indian Super League - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[Abhijeet Dey]

Indian football players are unable to think on their feet: Eelco Schattorie
By John Cheeran, The Economic Times, 26 Feb, 2014

The meek shall not inherit the earth. That's Eelco Schattorie's parting message. The Dutch coach was managing Sporting United Kolkata till recently. In an interview with ET Sport, Schattorie says Indian football has a tough road ahead. While he admits that there is no shortage of talent, India's progress in international football will be painfully slow.

What does your experience say about the future of Indian football?

The talent is there. Look at the demographics— you have 1.24 billion people. All you need is 11 guys to make a team, but India lacks the infrastructure. There are not enough proper fields. Clubs do not have a youth development programme. There are not enough qualified coaches.

Look at Middle Eastern nations such as UAE, Qatar and Oman. They have a small population, but, over the last 15-20 years, they have put in money and effort to develop infrastructure. Great stadiums, good pitches. If AIFF and clubs put up a real effort, India should be able to move up to over 100 in Fifa rankings. A ranking of 90 or 80 should be a good beginning.

What about their weaknesses?

Football is a creative game. The Dutch play creative football. It does not help to be humble on the playing field. During the course of the match, you have to make decisions. But, Indian players are unable to think on their feet and take split-second decisions. And they lack explosive power—to run fast and deliver a withering shot.

Are Indian players fit enough to last 90 minutes?

Indian players come from a poor background. Most of them don't eat well until they get into a youth development programme or a club. So that's a problem area.

Do you think the presence of a large number of foreign footballers hamper the development of the domestic game?

Four foreign players in the playing XI is a sure-fire way to kill Indian football. It will hamper the development of indigenous talent. AIFF should limit the number of foreign players to two. The near absence of strikers in Indian football is a direct result of the dominance of foreign players.

How good are the African players in Indian football?

They are average. I had worked in Ghana (managing Red Bull Ghana). African players can easily adapt to Indian conditions since they come from a similar social background. The quality is not top class. It depends on how these players are chosen, who brings them. Watching one YouTube video is not enough to judge the quality of a player. It takes time to recruit good players. Clubs should invest in a good recruitment system. Most African players who make it to India do not have a playing background in league football. They learn their football on the streets.

Will India ever qualify for World Cup final round?

I don't see that happening for a very, very long time.

Source Link: economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/sports/indian-football-players-are-unable-to-think-on-their-feet/articleshow/31015155.cms

 

[Abhijeet Dey]

@Sabir, @Srinivas_K, @Blackwater, @TrueSpirit @Rage

Tenders for football's new league out next week
K Shriniwas Rao & V Anand, The Times of India, 1 Mar 2014

LINK: timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/top-stories/Tenders-for-footballs-new-league-out-next-week/articleshow/31189091.cms

MUMBAI: The Indian Super League football tournament, which had been put on the backburner due to lack of a suitable window, is finally set to roll.

IMG-Reliance is likely to float a tender in the first week of March, inviting bids for nine cities across the country. The top eight will be selected as participating teams.

The base price for franchises is learnt to have been pegged at Rs 25 crore and the bidding, say sources, will be a closed one. The tournament has finally been slotted between September and November this year and the organizers expect the franchise-based module to expand the market for football outside the regular pockets in the country. To promote and broadcast the league, IMG-Reliance had brought in Star TV as a 30% stakeholder in the league through a 10-year JV said to be worth Rs 1500 crore.

The league has the backing of the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and marquee players from across the world such as former Trinidad & Tobago and Manchester United striker Dwight Yorke, former Arsenal star Fredrik Ljungberg, ex-Argentina striker Hernan Crespo and former France and Arsenal winger Robert Pires are learnt to have confirmed their availability. TOI has learnt that negotiations are still on to bring in popular strikers like Michael Owen and Thierry Henry on board.

The league will feature 22 players in each team - 10 foreign players, eight domestic players and four local players from the catchment area in the under-23 category. TOI has learnt that IMG-Reliance team was involved in hectic discussions this week with corporate heads and Bollywood stars and that Shahrukh Khan and Ranbir Kapoor have shown interest in buying a team.

As for the venues, Pune, Guwahati, Chennai, Kochi, Mumbai and Delhi officials have confirmed the availability of stadiums during the above mentioned window while Kolkata, Goa and Bangalore are expected to confirm their availability this week.

The league had to be postponed after the initial announcement in October last year because of scheduling conflict and unavailability of stadia. However, with the formalities finally sorted out, sources in IMG-Reliance say the league has attracted a lot of attention from prospective bidders.

 

[Blackwater]

@Sabir, @Srinivas_K, @Blackwater, @TrueSpirit @Rage

Tenders for football's new league out next week
K Shriniwas Rao & V Anand, The Times of India, 1 Mar 2014

LINK: timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/top-stories/Tenders-for-footballs-new-league-out-next-week/articleshow/31189091.cms

this will not help indian football.as teams will be owned by bollywood stars, these football matches will be nothing but dramebaaji bolllywood style and full of match fixing

 

[Abhijeet Dey]

AIFF now will bid for World Club Cup :clap:

LINK: timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/top-stories/AIFF-now-will-bid-for-World-Club-Cup/articleshow/27147368.cms

I appeal to all Indians to support India's bid to host 2015-16 FIFA Club World Cup.

About FIFA Club World Cup
LINK: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FIFA_Club_World_Cup

 

[Abhijeet Dey]

Football gives them a level playing field
Alisa Schubert Yuasa,The Times of India, Mar 4, 2014

LINK: timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/Football-gives-them-a-level-playing-field/articleshow/31360025.cms

NEW DELHI: 'Fight crime with sports' is the uplifting message of The FootballLink Trust, an NGO dedicated to getting underprivileged children off the streets and onto the playing field. Every month or so, there is a football event at Raisina Bengali School in C R Park where police officials from across the street join school children to watch enthusiastic 12-year-olds participate in a match. "Underprivileged children are falling through the cracks in Indian society. Given neither guidance nor resources, they can easily stray into a life of crime. We are just trying to do what little we can," Chetan Misra, the founder of The FootballLink Trust, says. It's an ambitious goal, but one that the NGO is proactively working towards.

Delhi Police provides police grounds in Vikaspuri and Madhu Vihar as well as attends football matches. "Their involvement is essential to our goals," explains Rabia Jaffer, programme director of The FootballLink Trust. "People in Delhi, especially the underprivileged, distrust police and only see them as brutal and corrupt. We want to give them a chance to show a more humane face."

At the end of the football match, police officers handed out donated One World Futbols—almost indestructible—to the waiting players.

The FootballLink Trust provides coaching to children from underprivileged families as a tool for collective social development. Emphasis is placed on application; organizing football matches not only develops confidence and skill, but also teamwork and trust in the team. "Parents have also started seeing the advantages, saying their child has become more disciplined and engaged in their classes. That's why you see a lot of kids with football shoes, their parents are investing in them," Misra says.

Misra completed his schooling in India and went to Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, for engineering and economics. He played soccer throughout his school and college years. After 11 years in the US, where he got involved girls grassroots football programmes, Misra returned to New Delhi in 2009 with a desire to explore 'Football for Development Programs' that could benefit the fragmented Indian society. Being an FA, England-certified football coach, he has introduced football to 20,000 children and youth, both boys and girls, across New Delhi.

 

[Abhijeet Dey]

India Vs Bangladesh International Friendly Results at Fatorda Stadium, Margao, Goa

INDIA 2 - 2 Bangladesh

The score should have been India:3 and Bangladesh:1 since India had the home advantage. India scored first but after that things became haywire. All because of striker Indian captain Sunil Chhetri did India was able to save the match by equalising in the 90th minute.

FIFA World Ranking (as on 5th March 2014)

INDIA: 154

BANGLADESH: 164

 

[Abhijeet Dey]

If AIFF & Indian football had the money & support of all Indians then we would have invited top european league teams such as Chelsea or Barcelona to play 4 or 5 practice matches against India. Then obviously we would have won this match 5-0 against Bangladesh in today's match. :fp:

It is a huge shame that such a situation has come to this. India was once a top football superpower in Asia during the 1950's. Football is the second most played sport after Cricket in India. Therefore India desperately needs the support of this nation.

 

[Abhijeet Dey]

No comments as of yet. Then I presume majority of Indians love Cricket only. Who cares about Indian football anyway. :why:

 

[tueyer]

First test for Colaco

India is facing Maldives in a friendly today. It is the first match since Armando Colaco has taken over from Bob Houghton. It is to see how Indian players have adopted the pssing football that Colaco has been prescribing. It is to be noted at present Maldives is ranked at per with India. Ali Asfaq -the star striker of Maldives is known is 'Baichung of Maldives' and in two of last three encounters Maldives defeated India.

First half ended 1-1 draw though India was dominating the match. Sunil Chhetry scored from a Steven Dias's cross.

Fifties and sixties of the last century, the Indian football was the dominant Asian football, they had reached the World Cup finals. Subsequently Indian football began to decline. Know that in 2006, only to engage in a professional league for six years, to get a big sponsor of the Indian Football Association Premier League launched immediately started in 2012. Great Leap Forward dizzying pace of development.Indian football and more development is not to be underestimated. I also hope to be http://www.tshirtinuk.com/ to buy his national team football shirt.

 

[Abhijeet Dey]

FIFA U-17 World Cup: Indian football's date with glory
Ankur Pramod, The Times of India, 8 March 2014

LINK: timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/FIFA-U-17-World-Cup-Indian-footballs-date-with-glory/articleshow/31676477.cms?

NEW DELHI: The FIFA under-17 World Cup is the first of numerous great things that are inevitably bound to happen to Indian football; there is the Indian Super League (ISL) as well that will see prominent stars from all around the world bedazzle the Indian subcontinent, there was the 2008 AFC Challenge Cup, but never before has India as a 'cricket-crazy' country hosted an international football tournament at the highest level.

The FIFA team that was recently in the country to inspect the stadiums made it quite evident with their reactions that India has the potential to host a "tremendous World Cup".

It should indeed be looked upon that way. Hosting this tournament would mean that the country would finally have the infrastructure, facilities, dressing rooms, stadiums, and pitches that would meet the FIFA standards.

Not to forget, this is the first step in an otherwise long journey towards developing a reputation of being serious about football. With India's domestic football league, I-League, failing to improve the standards of the game due to it being overshadowed by other sports, the FIFA under-17 World Cup can act as an impeccable platform to launch a campaign to maybe host the FIFA World Cup in the foreseeable future.

When FIFA president, Sepp Blatter, visited India in 2007, he said something that will be etched forever in the hearts of every Indian football fan. Blatter designated India as a "sleeping giant" when it came to handling the affairs of international football. Keeping in mind the lucrative possibilities that the game possess, he said that land and infrastructure must be allocated for the betterment of football.

India winning the bid to host the FIFA under-17 World Cup is a sign of virtuous times to roll for Indian football. All India Football Federation (AIFF) president, Praful Patel, has a clear strategy in mind. He wants football to be the number one sport in the country. He believes that the U-17 World Cup, by virtue of India participating as hosts, will be a landmark event for the country thereby redefining the sport.

It's good to see that the Indian football fraternity is represented by the right kind of people. Even Blatter recently went on the record saying that India as a "giant" has started to wake up. And it can be said with paramount certainty that the exposure that India would have at the international stage due to the status and eminence that this tournament holds will surpass any and all other footballing events.

India, as a country, has indeed seen its ups and downs on various fronts and nonetheless football was the least of its problems. Therefore call it twist of fate or call it stroke of luck, but India did manage to win the bid, surpassing 4 other countries, and gain the esteemed honour to host a world-class tournament even after having an initial bid rejected by FIFA.

India hosting the 2017 FIFA under-17 World Cup is undeniably a big deal. We'll have some potential future Indian stars battling it out on the field with talented international U-17 stars, some of whom can play in distinguished European leagues in future. Not only would it improve the imminent quality of Indian football at hand, it would also play a major role in getting hardcore English Premier League and UEFA Champions League fans from India inclined towards following Indian football for a change. The rest only time will tell.

 

[Abhijeet Dey]

LFC International Football Academy DSK Shivajians begins talent scouting in India
13-Mar-2014

LINK: goal.com/en-india/news/136/india/2014/03/13/4680696/lfc-international-football-academy-dsk-shivajians-begins?ICID=SP_HN_2

Six cities have been targetted to best of the lot for the first of its kind academy in India...

Liverpool Football Club (LFC) International Football Academy – DSK Shivajians is all set to kick start a nationwide scouting campaign to identify promising young football talent in India. These talented footballers will form the first batch of students tobe trained at the academy that is coming up in Loni, Pune.

This six city, namely Aizawl, Shillong, Goa, Mumbai, Delhi and Pune, scouting tour scheduled over March and April 2014 is aimed at shortlisting players to form two groups of Under-17 and Under-19.

The first scouting trip will take place in Aizawl from 17th – 20th March, 2014, at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium, Mualpui and will conclude in Pune with finalists from each regional round coming down to the city for the final round of screening.

The players who are unable to attend any of the previous regional scouting trips will also be encouraged to attend the final leg in Pune. However, a player can only register for one of the trials.

The 64 selected boys will work under the able guidance of Liverpool coaches, Ray Curtis and Michael William Rice who will shortlist players at the talent scouting camps. Enthusiastic footballers can register online - LFC International Football Academy – DSK Shivajians or www.facebook.com/lfc-dskacademy.

The Academy is the brainchild of Shirish Kulkarni, President, LFC International Football Academy – DSK Shivajians and is supported by Ardeshir Jeejeebhoy, CEO and Amit Vanjari, General Manager, LFC International Football Academy – DSK Shivajians.

With the aim to produce well-rounded footballers who can compete on an international level, the residential Academy will provide top notch infrastructure, a safe and secure learning environment and an emphasis on well-rounded education. The facilities at the academy are designed to global standards and cater to all the student's needs, both sports and recreation based. The thought behind this world class establishment is to ensure wholesome development of students who would go on to represent the country at both junior and international platforms and provide skill sets for those who are looking at sports as a long term career.

"We are very excited to commence our talent scouting process and are looking forward to meet some young talented individuals who are passionate and serious about pursuing football. LFC International Football Academy – DSK Shivajians aims to provide an exciting platform to these youngsters from across India and internationally to showcase their potential and evolve as great footballers. With this world-class full time residential coaching academy with state-of-the art facilities and training under renowned coaches from Liverpool, we are confident of positioning India very strongly on the world map of international football," said Shirish Kulkarni, President, Liverpool International Football Academy – DSK Shivajians.

Talking about the partnership, Ray Curtis said: "It is a fantastic experience. We can bring LFC closer to our Indian fans while working with an excellent partner in DSK to develop young football talents from across the country."

Michael Rice shared a similar emotion: "A great opportunity for a famous and historic club like Liverpool FC to be a part of the development of football in India."

 

[Abhijeet Dey]

Fifa's presidential candidate is friend of India
Marcus Mergulhao,The Times of India, 15 March 2014

LINK: timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/top-stories/Fifas-presidential-candidate-is-friend-of-India/articleshow/32031096.cms

PANAJI: It suggests something about Jerome Champagne's dedication to the game and his professed love for Indian football that he travels half-way across the world to attend a seminar in a country that is only ranked 152nd in the world.

Champagne, presidential candidate for the 2015 Fifa elections, was refused a visa in Switzerland, where he is based, and was told to go through the visa formalities in his native France.

He did that and only landed in Goa after a 48-hour flight ordeal.

Champagne, 55, is the star attraction at the Goa International Football Table, organized by Goa Football Development Council (GFDC), and is as excited to be in India as he was seven years ago.

This time around, it's different, though.

The last time Champagne stepped on Indian soil in the summer of 2007, he was part of the Fifa entourage that included president Sepp Blatter. Champagne, then, was Blatter's right-hand man and the deputy general secretary at Fifa. It was at his insistence that Blatter broke convention and spent three-days here and also launched the Win in India with India programme, a eight million dollar scheme tailor-made for India by the former French diplomat.

"I am here because I want to help Indian football," said Champagne, speaking exclusively to TOI on Friday.

"It is nice to know that six artificial fields have been built as part of the programme but that is not enough. It is still a drop of water in the ocean of needs and also the potential of Indian football," he said.

The former Fifa deputy general secretary, a friend of India, is no longer with world football's governing body, where he played a pivotal role for 11 years. But having launched his bid for the Fifa Presidency ahead of next year's elections, he aspires to return and could be up against Blatter, a man whose election campaign he successfully managed in 2002.

"It's a hypothetical question because, for the moment, I am the only candidate. I will address this question when and if Mr Blatter declares his intentions to contest. And may be, there will be other candidates. But for the moment, I am the only one," said Champagne, former international advisor to Blatter.

Champagne-who enjoys the backing of Pele, arguably the world's greatest footballer -launched his presidential campaign two months ago and has received plaudits for a number of initiatives, including moves to increase the World Cup slots for inadequately represented continents like Asia and Africa.

 

[Abhijeet Dey]

Inter Milan to launch academy in Hosur, Tamil Nadu
Biju Babu Cyriac, TNN | Mar 13, 2014

LINK: timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/top-stories/Inter-Milan-to-launch-academy-in-Hosur/articleshow/31913868.cms

BANGALORE: Italian giants Inter Milan are all set to start their first academy in Asia in Hosur, near here, in May.

The club is planning to make it a grand entry with their top stars including Argentine Javier Zanetti and club president Erick Thohir expected for the launch.

"Outside Italy, Inter has football academies only in USA & Japan and now in India. Each international academy project is unique and it is organized with respect of the local reality both on a technical as well as a social level.

The standard of coaching, the intensity of the course, are all similar and along the lines expected from Inter youth academy. The residential academy is free for the kids who are identified to join the academy, So it's on merit of talent. The soccer schools will have a charge attached to it which will be at par with the market," Marco Monti, technical director of Inter's academy projects told TOI, via e-mail.

"The launch is expected to be in end of May 2014. Mr Thohir is very much excited about Inter developing a permanent presence in India and is currently scheduled to join us at the launch. We have some legends of Inter also coming down for the launch such as Zanetti & few more," he said.

" Andrea Ratti, our youth coach, has been assigned with the task of heading the Inter Academy in India. Andrea has worked with youth academies across the world and brings the inter expertise and technology to India. We are also putting in place our advanced scientific software to help identify talent as well as monitor them on an ongoing basis," Monti said.

The top official said the new facility can train nearly 200 kids. "Over the last year we have been working on identifying and developing a residential academy in South India. We finally narrowed down on a location, near Hosur.

The academy is equipped with two football pitches with a stand for spectators and changing rooms, indoor arena with three five-a-side courts (synthetic turf), athletic field, gym, changing rooms, residential facility for upto 200 academy kids plus 250 guests/camps attendees. A beautiful place with world class infrastructure," he added.

Monti said trials are already under way at different locations. "The primary objective of Inter's presence in India is to develop grassroots level football in India. Trials are already under way on a formal and informal basis.

I and my senior team of coaches are right now in India, traveling across states to assess available support staff and talent. We are planning a tournament/ talent hunt in May to further identify talent," Monti said.

 

[Abhijeet Dey]

Best phase for north east football: Gouramangi Singh
IANS | March 20, 2014

LINK: timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/top-stories/Best-phase-for-north-east-football-Gouramangi-Singh/articleshow/32363259.cms

NEW DELHI: Mizoram's victory in the Santosh Trophy this year put the limelight on football in the north east and India defender Gouramangi Singh reaffirmed the rise by saying that this was the best phase for the sport in the region.

Gouramangi, who hails from Manipur, said the north east had always produced fine footballers but now clubs from the region had also started making their mark.

There are two clubs from Shillong in the Airtel I-League and there is also Royal Wahingdoh which is in the second division league.

"North east has always been a hot bed for football talent but never for football clubs. Over the past two decades, if you see, most clubs would have had at least two to three players from the north east playing in their teams in the national football league and the I-League," Gouramangi told AIFF Media Thursday.

"However, with the emergence of clubs from Shillong, presently there are more options for a player. Nowadays, a footballer from north east need not necessarily venture out to play outside the region. Personally, I hope for the full transition and wait for the day when all Manipuri players can play in a Manipur I-League club and so on.

Gouramangi, who is a product of the Tata Football Academy and has plied his trade with clubs like Dempo SC and Churchill Brothers, said there was still a lot of work needed to be done at the grassroot level.

"There is plenty of talent but we need to do much more work at the grassroot level. With the 2017 U-17 FIFA World Cup approaching there should be plenty of academies, football schools of excellence, etc in the region," said the central defender.

"Schools should also tie up with football academies to make better educated players who excel in the game and also have a back up career from their education."