Grassroots – Page 2 – Football News India

Kerala Based SEPT Signs Landmark Agreement with UAE Club Al Ahli SC

February 10, 2014 footballnewsindia Leave a comment

Kerala based football academy SEPT signs landmark agreement with UAE Club Al Ahli SC. SEPT is a byword in Kerala football now. Started in 2004, SEPT now trains around 2000 budding footballers across the state. Take any age-group Kerala team, it is assured that SEPT cadres form a major part of them.

As part of the agreement it is understood that Al Ahli SC will open up their world class training facility and trainers for SEPT kids. In turn, Al Ahli is hoping to tap in to the large swathe of Indian diaspora in UAE. According to reports it is said that after the U-17 World Cup that took place in UAE, Al Ahli noticed the vast number of Indian supporters that turned up for the matches and issued notices in Malayalam media in UAE urging fans to turn for Al Ahli’s matches as well.

The partnership between SEPT was signed today between SEPT UAE coordinator Shanavas CKP and Ahmed Khalifah Hammed (CEO, Al Ahli Club) during a press conference at the Al Ahli Club Media Centre.

Al Ahli is a leading club in the middle-east and has been attracting top players from middle-east and Europe off late.

I.M. Vijayan and Jo Paul Ancheri launches Indian Football Foundation

January 31, 2014 footballnewsindia Leave a comment

Indian Football Foundation (IFF) launched

On 29th January night at a glittering ceremony the Indian Football Foundation (IFF) was launched at Kohinoor Continental, JB Nagar, Andheri (East). IFF supported by Lions Club of Bombay Willingdon Crescent.

IFF is the brainchild of,

Shri Dinesh Nair – Indian International
Shri I M Vijayan- Arjuna Awardee
Shri Godfrey Pereira – Chatrapati Shivaji Awardee
Shri Jo Paul Anchery – Indian International
Shri Jacinto D’silva – Indian International

IFF Academy’s objective is to provide the mainstream of national football a perennial pool of young footballers trained and oriented to international standards.

A team of Certified coaches will provide training to age groups U – 8 to U-14, especially Grass Roots. Also in association with Lions Club of Willingdon Crescent the academy hopes to provide free coaching to talented Underprivileged Children.

In the coming year Lions are planning to take the Soccer fiesta to multiple centers thus multiplying impact while helping in spotting talent at the Grassroots.

Lions Willingdon Promotes Football

Lions Club of Bombay Willingdon Crescent’s Mission is to “Create a Multi Sport Facility” at the Lions Municipal Sports Complex , near Milan Sub-way , Santacruz (West)

Our Vision is to “Nurture Talent at the Grassroots”. Towards this end, the Lions organised the first edition of the “Lions Willingdon Soccer Fiesta” from 5^th to 19^th January 2014. 117 teams participated across 7 categories for the prestigious trophies.

The Soccer Fiesta was inaugurated by Climax Lawrence, ex-India Captain and Yusuf Yakubu, Ghana World cup player. Both of them currently play for Mumbai FC.

Lions Willingdon Stars – a team of India internationals led by I M Vijayan, Godfrey Pereira, Jo Paul Anchery, Jacinto D’silva, Steven Dias and Dinesh Nair played an exhibition match against the “Best of Corporate” team on the finale day in front of early 500 football lovers who witnessed the match and the award ceremony.

On the Finale day U 10 Futsal comprising of over 100 children was appreciated and enjoyed by all.

Results “Soccer Fiesta – Jan 2104”

U – 12

Winner : St. Annes Malad
Runner Up : Lycum Sports Club

U – 14

Winner : KSA

Open Clubs

Winner : MYJ – IC Extension
Runner Up : Macabi

Veterans

Winner : Geostanne United
Runner Up : Freunds

NGO

Winner : Don Bosco Shelter
Runner Up : Rainbow Foundation

Women’s

Winner : Bandra Packers
Runner Up : Companeros

Corporate

Winner : Indigo Airlines
Runner Up : Online Tourism & Freight Pvt Ltd

Tentative dates for the next Soccer Fiesta – 6th to 21st December 2014

Australian Coaches to Train Manipur Boys

January 13, 2014 footballnewsindia Leave a comment

Imphal, January 12 2014 : All Manipur Grassroots Football Parents’ Association would organize a football coaching programme starting from January 14 at 6 am everyday.

The coaching would be conducted and guided by popular Australian coaches.

The association has notified to all the parents of those boys who took part in the recently concluded grassroots football coaching camp held between July and September to take part in the said programme as well.

The boys should report with playing kits along with their parents.

Source: Hueiyen News Service

United Sikkim FC to Host U-14 Snow Lion Cup

December 13, 2013 footballnewsindia Leave a comment

Around 30 football academies in Sikkim and neighbouring towns of Darjeeling and Kalimpong are competing against each other during the u-14 Snow Lion Cup being hosted by United Sikkim FC this month. In January, the Bhaichung Bhutia-led club is also organizing a month-long free coaching camp for over 1,000 kids in different areas of Sikkim and Darjeeling Hills.

Both the Snow Lion Cup for under-14 kids and coaching camps, sponsored by State Bank of India and Indian Football Foundation, also carries dreams of extracting a couple of talents that could represent the nation in the U-17 World Cup being hosted by India in 2017.

“These two events are the biggest ever football grassroots football development activities in the Hills. It is historic. United Sikkim FC is committed to promote football at grassroots levels and to spot talents. Last year we could not do much as we were busy with ILeague.

This time, we are not in I-League that gives us time to focus on promoting football in the rural areas,” said Bhaichung in a press conference.

The Snow Lion Cup

The Snow Lion Cup leg for Sikkim starts at Paljor Stadium from December 14. The Darjeeling leg is scheduled from December 19 while the Kalimpong leg is from December 22.

The winner of each group will then play against each other to determine the Snow

Lion Cup winners, said tournament director Thupden Rapgyal Bhutia in a press conference here.

Each match is of 50 minutes duration in the tournament organized in a league format.

Teams featuring in the Sikkim leg are North District Football Association (Mangan), Sanju Pradhan football academy (Sombaria), Dzongu Academy, Boys Club Academy (Gangtok), Sikkim Himalayan SC (Gangtok), GVS FA (Pendam), Namthang FA, Melli Dara Academy, Gangtok FA and JNV Pakyong.

“Altogether 23 matches would be held at Paljor Stadium for Sikkim academies. We plan to complete the Sikkim leg in 3-4 days,” said Thupden Rapgyal.

A dozen academies are lined up for Darjeeling leg to be played at St Joseph’s ground while in Kalimpong, the organizers have shortlisted eight teams at Mela Ground.

Bhaichung informed that all the teams would be provided with free transportation, accommodation (in case of teams far away from the venue) and food. The Snow Lion Cup winner will receive a cash prize of Rs. 30,000 and the runners up will get Rs. 20,000 while the third positioned team will get Rs. 10,000, he said.

The battle of under-14 kids from Sikkim, Darjeeling and Kalimpong does not end with the Snow Lion Cup. The organizers have planned to select best 20 talents among these academies for a special camp under United Sikkim for around 20 days.

“We will also be taking them to exposure trips and tournaments outside Sikkim. They could be taken to Delhi to train and play with students of Bhaichung Bhutia Football Schools,” said United Sikkim senior manager Arjun Rai.

Football Camps

United Sikkim FC is also holding a month-long coaching Warm Winter for Football camp in January for kids up to 16 years in different parts of Sikkim, Darjeeling and Kalimpong. Around 500 kids from Sikkim are expected to participate in the camps to be held in North, West and South districts and another 500 kids would be attending the camps at Lebong ground in Darjeeling and Mela ground in Kalimpong.

“Schools in the hills are presently on a long winter vacation. We need to keep the kids occupied in healthy activities during the winter break. This camp will help them channelize their energy in positive things,” said Bhaichung.

The camps would not be charging any entry fees. The participants will be provided with free kits and coaches from outside the State along with local coaches are providing trainings. “Football talents are mostly found in rural areas. We want to provide them proper training and groom best talents through the camps,” said Bhaichung.

“I hope we get talents from these two events. The biggest dream for us to have 2-3 kids coming from these two events would go on to play for the nation in the u-17 World Cup being hosted by India in 2017. If it happens, it will be our biggest satisfaction,” said Bhaichung.

Bhaichung thanked Thupden Rapgyal for his support to both the events. He also thanked the State Bank of India and Indian Football Association for their generous sponsorship for both the coaching camps and the Snow Lion Cup football tournament.

Courtesy : http://isikkim.com

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

November 28, 2013 footballnewsindia Leave a comment

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

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.

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).

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

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/

AIFF Planning Certification for Grassroots Centers

October 18, 2013 footballnewsindia Leave a comment

Image Courtesy : http://www.the-aiff.com/

According to a report from Goa, AIFF is planning to implement certification for Grassroots centers. Once Implemented, it will bring all grassroots centers/school in a state under the state association. It will also ensure certain requirements are fulfilled and the centers will follow a same philosophy of development.

In future anyone who runs a grassroots center in a school, club or community can apply for affiliation with the respective state associations by fulfilling some basic criteria. The criteria are basic and are focused more on ensuring that the grassroots principles of AIFF and FIFA are followed.

Once the criteria is fulfilled, grassroots centers will be provided and affiliation certificate which will be valid for a year.

Grassroots Football course in Manipur

October 2, 2013 footballnewsindia Leave a comment

AIFF and All Manipur Football Association to Conduct Grassroots Football course

Imphal, October 01 2013: The AIFF/AMFA Grassroots course is scheduled to be held from 12 to 14 October, 2013 .

All the DSAs/DFAs have been informed to submit lists of their players to take part in the course.

Football aspirants who want to participate in the course are to pay Rs.500/- as fee.

The schedule for holding the course would be notified on 7/10/2013 .

Source: Hueiyen News Service

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