Manchester City to Hold Football Clinics in India

Manchester City, India, Football Clinic, Jet Airways, Football, Soccer, Delhi, Mumbai, EPL, Premier LeagueManchester City FC football coaching clinics, a grassroots program for young children that aims at improving their technical football skills, will take place in the Capital from December 1 to 8.

The clinics will also include coaching on positioning, dribbling, passing and shooting the ball and will be conducted in a fun atmosphere with emphasis on teamwork and interacting with the coaches to benefit from their vast knowledge.

This is the first joint initiative taken by Etihad Airways and equity alliance partner, Jet Airways, since the transaction for the purchase of 24 per cent of Jet Airways by Etihad Airways was concluded on November 20.

This is Etihad Airways’ first coaching initiative to be held in India aiming to promote sport among the Indian youth.

Etihad Airways is the main partner and shirt sponsor of Manchester City FC and has hosted several football clinics in Abu Dhabi as well as in China, Seychelles and Nigeria.

A coaching team headed by Manchester City’s Community Ambassador Alex Williams MBE, an ex-professional goalkeeper with the club, will visit Mumbai and Delhi to lead 11 training sessions for up to 1,000 children.

The week-long activities will kick off in Mumbai with mall promotions at High Street Phoenix, Lower Parel followed by a four-day coaching program in Mumbai.

The team will then travel to Delhi where they will deliver a similar grassroots coaching program and conclude with a major promotion at the DLF Emporio Mall, Vasant Kunj.

Peter Baumgartner, Etihad Airways chief commercial officer said: “Etihad Airways has a proud tradition of hosting grass roots sporting events globally and we are very excited to be bringing our Manchester City FC football clinics to India to celebrate the completion of our partnership with our equity partner Jet Airways.”

Gaurang Shetty, Senior VP, Commercial, Jet Airways said: “We recognise our responsibility to society and stand committed to creating more such opportunities for the development of Indian youth by way of the programs we conduct.”

Source : PTI

Interview : Kovalam FC’s Ebin Rose on Grassroots Development and More

When you hear about Kovalam, what comes to your mind is the pristine beaches, sun kissed sand and swaying palms. Apart from being a global tourist destination, it has to be noted that Thiruvananthapuram district, of which Kovalam is a part of, has produced some of the finest footballers from Kerala. We took some time out to catch up  with Ebin Rose (former Kerala & I-league player), who is the chief coach and dons the all-in-all role at the budding Kovalam FC.

After modest beginning in 2009 with 20 footballers, Kovalam FC has grown in to a full-fledged team of approximately 100 players with U-11, U14, U16 and  a senior team as of now.

Here is what Ebin had to tell us about himself, Kovalam FC, its future, grassroot development and more. Read on.

  • Greetings Ebin, tell us a little about yourself. How did start playing football, which teams have you represented and so on. –
Ebin Rose, Kovalam FC, India, Football, Indianfootball, Grassroots, Kerala, Football, Academy, Thirvananthapuram, Soccer

Ebin Rose

Hello, I started my playing career in Thirvananthapuram, appeared for the district team both in the Junior and senior level.  In 1997, i appeared for Kerala University team which won the South India University Championship. Subsequently in 1998, I led the Kerala university team in the All India University championship in which we finished runners up with me being the top-scorer of the tournament and was awarded the Oomen George gold medal by Kerala University.

In 1999, I started my professional playing career by playing for State Bank of Travancore team  and then on I moved to Titanium Football club and subsequently got loaned out to Viva Kerala FC.  With Viva Kerala,  the team I played for 12 months, I could score a goal against East Bengal in I-league and appeared in all their matches during that period.

I am also member of the Kerala team which won Santosh Trophy in Delhi in 2004, appeared for Kerala from 2004-2008 in Santosh Trophy  and played in Guwahati  National games for Kerala. I finished my AFC C license certification in 2008 and currently don the role of coach and manager of Kovalam FC.

  • What made you think about forming Kovalam FC and tell us more about Kovalam FC, who are the trainers, how many teams are there in the senior, Junior categories?  – 

I have a good and secure job now and much respect within the football fraternity.  During my hey days in football, I had offers from the big clubs in India to play for them, but what I was looking for was a secure job and stability.

Due to my desire to give back to the society of poor fishermen family in my area,  to give the kids quality training and thereby helping them to escape a life of drug abuse and criminality, Kovalam FC was set up in 2009.

In 2009 we started  off with less than 20 players now we are approximately 100 players from Under 11s to our 1st team of seniors, that includes  U-14 & U-16 teams. Our U-11 & U-12 teams are coached a minimum of 3 times a week as part of our Football Academy programme.

  • What are the achievements of Kovalam FC so far? Has any players represented district, state teams so far?  –

If you are to look at our achievements, we won the Thrivananthapuram DFA “A” Division league in 2009 after we formed Kovalam FC.  Since 2010, we have been finishing in the top-half of the district league where our team is pitted against big departmental clubs such as KSEB, SBT and so on.  In 2012, our U-16 team participated in the  Youth Champions League conducted in Goa and were semi-finalists in the presence of football legend Luis Figo.

20 of our players have been part of the Thiruvananthapuram District teams in the senior and      Junior Category. Our players have also made progress elsewhere. Skyline Dennis has represented Delhi in Santosh Trophy, Sair Sha and Baiju are paying for Titanium FC.

Ebin Rose, Kovalam FC, India, Football, Indianfootball, Grassroots, Kerala, Football, Academy, Thirvananthapuram, Soccer

Kovalam FC Senior Team

  •  What are the future plans for Kovalam FC, do you see you club making to I-league some day?  –

Of course, we are gunning for participating in I-league in the future. But this depends on the financial viability and the growth of the club. We are expecting to achieve this within another 3 years.  Kerala badly needs an I-league club.

  • If you are to pick some really talented players coming through Kovalam FC, who are they?

If i am to pick some real good prospects from our team –  Mijun (U-11), Midhan Mathiyas (U-13), Beniston (U-16), Athiesh (U-17).

Ebin Rose, Kovalam FC, India, Football, Indianfootball, Grassroots, Kerala, Football, Academy, Thirvananthapuram, Soccer

Kovalam FC Junior team at Kovalam beach

  • We saw some pictures of Kovalam FC players with AIFF Technical Director Rob Baan. Did Kovalam FC players get a chance to train with the AFC A license course candidates? If so, how different was Rob Baan’s approach towards coaching? –

Our players got a chance to train with the who and who of Indian football when the AFC A license certification was conducted in Thiruvananthapuram.  That short training stint was very beneficial for our players. We also got very positive comments on the ability and skill levels of our players.

 

Kovalam FC with Rob Baan

Kovalam FC with Rob Baan

  • Who are the main supporters of Kovalam FC? –

Self confidence, dedication, discipline and devotion is our income, and our supporters are dreams, hard work, and families of our players.

For more information on Kovalam Football club, visit http://www.kovalamfootballclub.com/

Pune FC to be featured in BBC World News

Pune FC, India, Football, BBC World News, India Direct, February, 2014, Elections, Soccer, DalitBBC News has confirmed that they will be airing India Centric Programmes in February 2014 preceding the general elections. BBC says the program India Direct is an opportunity for the world audience to see everyday life in India. One among the stories in this series from India would be of Pune FC‘s.

The series is expected to run across two weeks from 8 February 2014.

One Square Mile – Pune FC (TBC)

Tim Samuels – a confirmed football fan and award-winning reporter – travels to Pune, one of India’s fastest growing cities with a burgeoning manufacturing and entrepreneurial sector. He visits Pune FC, in India’s premier league, meets the players, and their Dutch manager and goes to a premier league match. Tim learns who watches football and hears about the sport’s allure in a country traditionally enamoured with cricket. He also meets another football team, one made up of dalits, who can only aspire to the big time. – bbc.co.uk.

We had earlier mentioned that with the influx of European players especially from U.K, I-league has garnered attention from the U.K media. Sky Sports and The Scotsman has already carried stories on players and coaches who are part of the league.

The BBC the program may not follow that suit but this would definitely pave way for our footballing stories to reach a global audience which otherwise is buried under a heavy heap of cricket.

Veda FC Crowned Nagaland Premier League Champions

Nagaland Premier League, Footbal, North East, Kohima, Veda FC, Kohima Komets, Indianfootball, SoccerDebutants Veda FC were crowned the champions of the Nagaland Premier League season 2 following a 4-0 win over Dynamic FC at DDSC Stadium, Dimapur Monday. Nagaland Premier League, NPL, Football, North East, Veda FC, Indianfootball, Kohima

Kohima Komets finished on second place with a victory over Doyang FC at Kohima, while Dimapur United FC defeated last year champion, Barak FC 2-0 to finish on third position. Naga Tornadoes beat United Redskins 3-1 to fourth.

Earlier, Rhitsho Mero opened the account for Veda in the 5th minute. After the break Veda FC added three more goals with K. Thopi scoring two goals, second and fourth in 59th and 88th minutes.

The third goal for Veda FC was scored by Kezevituo in the 67th minute. In the first session, Dynamic FC lost number of real opportunities.

Nagaland Premier League Season 2 :

NPL Table

Mohammed Rafi Could Join Mumbai FC on Loan

Mohammed Rafi, Football, Kerala, Churchill Brothers, Mumbai Tigers, IMG - Reliance, Kasargode, Soccer, Yesterday we reported that former India international and Kerala player N.P Pradeep has joined Mumbai FC on loan.

Goal.com is reporting that Mumbai FC will sign four players on loan from IMG – Reliance. Including N.P Pradeep,  Mohammed Rafi, Peter Costa and Khelemba Meetei could join the outfit.

Like N.P Pradeep, Rafi is also an experienced player in Indian football circuit appearing for Mahindra, Churchill Brothers, and as recently for Mumbai Tigers before signing on for IMG – Reliance.

N.P Pradeep Joins Mumbai FC

 N.P Pradeep, Football, I-league, Mumbai FC, Idukki, Mahindra, Mohun Bagan, Mumbai Tigers, IndianFootball, Socceer, LeagueFormer India and International and Kerala player N.P Pradeep has joined Mumbai FC on loan. By this Mumbai FC becomes the third team in I-League to sign players attached to IMG – Reliance League.

Pradeep comes with loads of experience in Indian Football circuit. From 2000 onwards, Pradeep has appeared for various clubs such as Mahindra, Viva Kerala, Mohun Bagan and lately signed for Dodsal FC which was later renamed to Mumbai Tigers.

Pradeep also has 50 international caps for India and featured heavily in the national team during Bob Houghton era. With Mumbai Tigers pulling out from I-league, Pradeep had inked deal with IMG- Reliance for their upcoming IPL Style league.

With IMG – Reliance League getting postponed, Mumbai FC has taken the plunge to sign the midfielder that will add a lot of experience to their current I-league squad. So far, Rangdajied United, Mohammedan Sporting and Mumbai FC has signed players contracted with IMG – Reliance.

I-League Could Tie-Up with SAP for High-end Analytics

SAP, I-league, SAPA HANA, India, Clubs, Football, Bengaluru FC, Pune FC, Sunandho Dhar, SoccerSAP has made its foray in to sports in a big manner with the announcement of the SAP HANA system. SAP HANA an in-memory database, analytics, mobile software combined with other technologies can help teams to gauge performance of their players, collect real time data and do much.

SAP has already taken a dive in to this vertical as they have already signed up NBA in this regard. SAPA HANA system offer teams a scouting platform, it can grab media and data from social sites and thereby gauging fan sentiments and could over all improve the experience of spectators in the stadium.

German Bundesliga outfit TSG 1899 Hoffenheim is using the latest technology offered by SAP. Where trainers use Google Glass in combination with this technology to gauge player performances.

Video of  Hoffenheim using SAP HANA technology :

AIFF has published an article about representatives participating in the recently concluded SAP Forum for Sports and Entertainment  in Germany.  SAP India Managing Director Anirban Dey told AIFF  – “SAP believes that this can also be leveraged by the I-League clubs,”

AIrtel I-league CEO Sunandho Dhar said that a Pilot Project is being chalked out between SAP India and Airtel I-league. “We are trying to work out a deal with SAP India on whether the technology can be brought to India, if not on the same scale but parts of it. A Pilot Project may be in the offing.” said Sunandho Dhar to AIFF Media.

Kerala – 50th Inter-District Football Tournament Starts

Kerala, Football, Kerala Football Association, India, Indianfootball, Soccer, KFAThe 50th Inter-District Football Tournament commenced in Wayanad on the 24th of November.

Matches will be played in the Arappetta ground (which indeed is a picturesque one! ).

Defending champion Malappuram and last year’s runner-up Kasaragod have been given a direct entry into the quarterfinals. Malappuram will play the winners from the Kannur vs Pathanamthitta match and Kasaragod will take on the winners from the Thirvananthapuram vs Alappuzha match.

Fixture :

[matches league_id=9 match_day=1]

[matches league_id=9 match_day=2]

[matches league_id=9 match_day=3]

[matches league_id=9 match_day=4]

[matches league_id=9 match_day=5]

 

Soccer School in Memory of V.P.Sathyan in Kozhikode

V.P. Sathyan, Soccer School, Football, Kozhikode, Anitha, Kerala, India, CaptainA football coaching school in memory of former Indian football team captain and defender V.P Sathyan will start functioning in Kozhikode from November 24th.

After seven years of his untimely demise, Sathyan’s wife Anitha has come forward to set up the school. The proposed V.P Sathyan Soccer School will adopt the 2002 batch of Sports Promotion and Education Trust (SEPT) footballers. SEPT is another academy based out of Kozhikode. The first batch of V.P Sathyan Soccer School will comprise of 20 kids.

Kerala Football Association president K.M.A Mather, Kozhikode Sports Council president K.J. Mathai and Former India international U. Sharaf Ali will be caretakers of the venture.

Sathyan’s friends, V.P Sathyan trust in Thalassery and well wishers offered support for the venture said Anitha. The objective is to give superior training and mold good players, she said. On November 24th, minister M.K. Muneer will inaugurate the soccer school.

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