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British Council’s Premier Skills Program Kicks off in Kerala

November 25, 2014 footballnewsindia Leave a comment

The hugely successful Premier Skills initiative, run by the Premier League and the British Council was launched on Monday 24 November 2014 in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India.

Premier Skills will take place from 24 to 30 November 2014. The training will be held at Sports Authority of India Lakshmibai National College of Physical Education, Kariavattom P.O.; Thiruvananthapuram 695581, Kerala.

This is the first phase of a three-phase training programme for coaches and two-phase training programme for referees in Thiruvananthapuram.

Premier Skills is a partnership between the British Council and the Premier League. It uses football as a tool to help develop both community coaching and English language skills. The programme trains sports coaches, referees and youth leaders to return to their own communities and enhance their existing football sessions, whilst also developing their leadership skills and a greater understanding of the role football can play in tackling other social issues.

The coach education programme will be led by head coach Jeremy Weeks, who was a senior coach at Fulham FC till May 2011 which he left to join the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Organising Committee (LOCOG) where he was the Paralympic Football Competition Manager. He will be supported by Corinne Mitchell, community coach from Aston Villa Football Club, Daniel Landstrom from City in the Community Foundation of Manchester City Football Club, Daniel Slaughter, Inclusion Development Manager at Tottenham Hotspur Football Club and Kelvin Chee a Premier Skills community coach educator from Malaysia.

The referee development programme will be led by Ray Olivier, Training & Development Manager for the Professional Game Match Officials and responsible for the training and development of Premier League and Football League referees and Assistant Referees in England. He will be supported by Keren Barratt, Select Group Referee Manager for the Professional Game Match Officials.

The course in Thiruvananthapuram is being jointly organised by the British Council and Premier League in association with Sports Authority of India (SAI), Lakshmibai National College of Physical Education, All India Football Federation (AIFF), Kerala Football Association (KFA) and Goa Football Association (GFA).

Participants in the programme have been selected from the Football associations as well as from a number of NGO’s, including Special Olympics, Cequin, Oscar Foundation and World Vision.

The coaches and referees will receive training from qualified Premier Skills coaches, giving them the skills and support to develop their own community football projects and development as referees.

In addition to the training, the UK referee trainers will hold a referee symposium event on 27 November.

As of 2013, Premier Skills has trained 2,500 coaches and referees in 25 countries across Asia, Africa and the Americas, who in turn have reached a further 550,000 young people. By 2016 it aims to train a further 3,000 coaches and referees and through them reach more than 300,000 young people.

In addition to coaching, a range of free materials, including a dedicated website, have been created under Premier Skills for teachers and learners of English that utilise exciting Premier League content and the British Council’s world-class expertise in English.

Premier League Chief Executive Richard Scudamore said:

“At home the Premier League and our Clubs have a long-held commitment and reputation for delivering high quality community and education programmes. Given our popularity internationally we felt it only right to take this approach to a wider community.

“Premier Skills has already taken place in 25 countries, including in India where we have run coach development projects in Delhi and Kolkata and are heavily involved in the ground-breaking Kolkata Goalz project, which has over 1,000 young people involved a week in its activities. I am thrilled that we are now rolling Premier Skills rolling out in India this week.”

Ms Mei-kwei Barker, Director, British Council South India said, “We are delighted to introduce Premier Skills, our very successful partnership project with the Premier League, to South India. It combines English and football, two universal languages and with the support of our local partners in India — Sports Authority of India (SAI), Lakshmibai National College of Physical Education, All India Football Federation (AIFF), Kerala Football Association (KFA) and Goa Football Association (GFA) — we have been able to provide this opportunity. We hope the coaches and referees find this training useful and we are able to bring more such programmes here over the next few years.”

The Programme

Coach Education Programme: 24 – 30 November 2014

The Coach Education curriculum aims to develop a group of local master trainers at the end of the programme. It will help to develop community coach skills and knowledge. The training will be in three parts, over 18 – 24 months and involves attendance at and graduation from each part of the training. There will be learning and practical tasks that must be completed between each of the training. Those that are successful will need to demonstrate continued progress throughout the 3 Phases and with the tasks that they will be asked to complete between the training phases. Successful Phase 3 Graduates will become Premier Skills Coach Educators – and they will have an opportunity to train and develop new Premier Skills Community Coaches to support the work of their organisation.

Referee Development programme: 24 – 26 November 2014

The Referee Development programme is a two phase programme which offers participants an introduction to refereeing at grassroots level. Participants include referees that are already working in community football programmes but who have received minimal or no formal training to improve their refereeing skills and knowledge.

Referee symposium: 27 November 2014

The symposium will be a mixture of interactive presentations designed to provide a modern update in both referee and assistant referee skills. The sessions will also be helpful for instructors and assessors to use the material for further developing their referees in their communities. Included in the presentations will be looking at the following training topics:

Critical Incidents and Communication
Recognising Foul Challenges
Offside Situations and Interpretation
Positioning & Movement
Referee & Assistant Referee Cooperation

To find out more about the football-focused English content and to view the materials online, visit http://premierskills.britishcouncil.org/

Crystal Palace Tie up with Mumbai City FC

November 25, 2014 footballnewsindia Leave a comment

English Premier League club Crystal Palace has tied up with Mumbai ISL franchise Mumbai City FC. Mumbai City FC along with Star Sports and Crystal Palace will stage a trial on thursday December 11th for 16-19 years olds in Mumbai.

12 players selected from this trial will be invited to perform their skills at the Barclays Premier League’s international fan park in Mumbai where live Premier League matches are to be screened.

A Crystal Palace delegation, led by club ambassador Mark Bright, will be assessing the selected footballers and the winner of the Play for Palace will travel to London to train with Crystal Palace’s young prospects.

Mark Bright who has scored more than 100 goals for Palace was quoted saying,

“This will be the chance of a lifetime. The winner of the competition will get a fantastic experience playing at the Academy and then go back to India to become an ambassador for Palace.

“This is a unique initiative. Everyone has a favourite local team and favourite overseas team – we want football fans in India to follow us.

“We know cricket is the number one sport in India, but football is global and it would be great to see an Indian-born player in the Premier League one day. They would become an idol and an inspiration”.

Crystal Palace chief executive Phil Alexander was quoted in the media saying, “We are very excited to be going to India to show ourselves to a new army of fans. The Premier League is booming in India and it’s a great chance for us to extend the club’s reach”.

A Mumbai City FC spokesman is also quoted in the reports. He said : “India,and Mumbai in particular, has a lot of football talent waiting to be harnessed and promoted. This initiative will provide a great platform for the youth of the city to showcase their skills and win the opportunity of a lifetime”.

I-league to Kickoff on January 17, 2015 in Bengaluru

November 24, 2014 footballnewsindia Leave a comment

Following are the main decisions of the I-League and Federation Cup Committee meeting that took place today.

I-league

To kick-off on January 17th in Bengaluru
75 out of the 110 league matches to be telecast by Ten Sports.
Web streaming of the matches to be available.
Registration of players will be done centrally through states associations.
Further discussions will be held on whether Goal Keeping coach can be seated on the bench during the match.
AIFF will monitor practice sessions of I-league Clubs.
Only A-License holders will be allowed to conduct coaching and training.
Coaches without A-license will not be allowed sit on the bench or even enter the dressing room on a match day.

U-15 League

To be a 16 team affair that would kickoff in the next calendar year.
Teams from 10 I-league clubs, 4 other academies and two AIFF academies will take part in the tournament.
Coca-Cola would be a sponsor for the tournament.

I-league 2nd Division

To take place in two venues which are not yet finalised.
8 participating teams Clubs are
- Aizawl FC
- Chanmari FC
- United Sports Club
- Mohammedan Sporting
- PIFA Sports
- Kenkre Sports
- Hindustan FC
- Lonestar Kashmir FC.

I-league U-19

To kick-off in 2nd week of December.

Bharat FC is here! The New I-league Club from Pune

November 24, 2014 footballnewsindia Leave a comment

The Kalyani Group on Sunday launched their football club named “Bharat FC”. The Group unveiled the name and philosophy of its football cluband launched the club-crest during a press conference at the city’s JW Marriot. The unveiling of the name and the club-crest was done by AmitKalyani, Executive Director Kalyani Group, KunalAgarwal, Director Bharat FC along with Stuart Watkiss and Stanly Rozario, the head-coach and assistant coach of Bharat FC respectively.

The club crest celebrates the spirit of People’s Club featuring the iconic India Gate monument with a majestic lion striding powerfully through it and a football graphically developed to show people standing in a huddle. All of this coming together to be part of a royal shield impressively forming the club crest in striking red and blue colours.

Elaborating on the Philosophy of the team, AmitKalyani said that, “The very ethos of Bharat FC is rooted in being a People’s Club. It is India’s Club based in Pune.And this philosophy is instrumental in giving its elements to the club-crest and its baseline “Together. Forever.Triumphant.” He added that “Though we are the Puneri team, the idea of spreading the magic and joy of football all through our country was foremost on our minds. Bharat FC aims not just to be Pune’s favourite team but one that all of India can identify with and follow.”

Talking about the way forward, Amit Kalyani,added that, “We will focus on all aspects of football and going forward we will look at further enhancing the youth development and grass root programs. We are looking at bringing talent from India and abroad and adopt best practices for building a strong foundation for Bharat FC.”

Stuart Watkiss, who has been appointed as head-coach of the team, said that it was the Kalyani Group’s pursuit of excellence that drew him towards the club. “We look to promote excellence and a deep sense of commitment on the football pitch. These two values are very close to the Kalyani Group’s heart and we hope to translate the same on the pitch. Building a club from scratch, assembling a competitive team, playing attractive and effective football are our current goals and we will be going all out to achieve them,” he said.

Kunal Agarwal, Director Bharat FC, said that the chance to construct an ultra-professional football club, one able to hold its own with the best in Asia was the clinching factor behind him coming on board. “Raising the bar for football clubs in India is something that has always been a passion for me. A well-managed, professional club can offer a lot of benefits for society as a whole apart from serving as a catalyst for the growth of the standard of football in India. I believe that Bharat FC gives us the opportunity to build a family that would strive to deliver a lot more beyond football to the entire community so everyone can share the success,” he said.

Bharat FC will start its games with the I-League slated to start in January 2015. Bharat FC will be playing its home games at Balewadi stadium in Pune.

Logo Philosophy

The club-crest has iconic India Gate monument representing the knowledge, sacrifice and wisdom that has gone into making India the glorious and diverse country that it is. The India Gate is crowned by a football that has been graphically developed to show people standing in a huddle, symbolizing the unity and teamwork that will be the cornerstones of Bharat FC. The lion beneath India Gate has been integrated to symbolize the courage, grace and athleticism which will be the hallmarks of the team. All the three elements have been contained within a royal shield which signifies the resolve and steadfastness of the football club as well as the Kalyani Group.

The primary colours in the club-crest of Bharat FC are red and blue. Red signifies passion, activity and a vigorous impatience to move forward all the time. Blue epitomizes truth and loyalty, two qualities that have always been a very integral part of the Kalyani Group’s philosophy and will be important pillars in Bharat FC as well.

About Kalyani Group

The Kalyani Group, established in mid 1960s, is an Indian multi-national with high technology, engineering & manufacturing capability across critical sectors such as Engineering Steel, Automotive, Industrial, Renewable Energy, Urban Infrastructure and Specialty Chemicals. Guided by visionary leadership of Mr BN Kalyani, Group Chairman, with strong emphasis on market leadership through technology and it’s over 10,000 strong engineering global workforce, the group today is a market leader in all its respective business segments.

India thrash Nepal 6-0 to become 3rd time SAFF Champions

November 21, 2014 footballnewsindia Leave a comment

Indian women’s football team put on a splendid performance to thrash Nepal 6-0 in the finals to lift the cup the third time in a succession. Bala Devi scored four goals for India in the finals.

After a relatively slow start to the match, India started their goal glut by the 26th minute through Kamala Devi. From then on the hapless Nepal team wilted under Indian dominance. In the last five minutes of the first half, Bala Devi struck twice as India lead 3-0 at halftime.

Within two minutes into the second half India scored again through Romi Devi. From then on, India scored at will till the final minutes taking the tally to half a dozen goals. Bala Devi doubled her tally to four in the match by scoring in the 51st and 92nd minute of the match.

India was in Group A of the tournament along with Bangladesh, Maldives and Afghanistan. In the group matches India defeated Maldives 8-0, Bangladesh 5-1, Afghanistan 12-0. And in the semi finals they routed Sri Lanka 5-0.

India Squad Finals :

INDIA XI: Roshni, Supriya, Radharani, Ashalata, Umapati, Indumathi, Bembem (c), Prameshwori, Mandakini, Bala, Kamala. #SAFFChampionship

— AIFF (@AiffMedia) November 21, 2014

India played 5 matches, scored 36 goals and conceded one. Baladevi who has been in terrific form had earlier told the Pakistan media that her target is to score 16 goals in the tournament. In fact she did achieve her target and 16 goals is the highest tally in a single edition of the championship, since its inception in 2010.

Ronnie Screwvala’s UniLazer Ventures and Bundesliga’s TSG 1899 Hoffenheim to launch Football Academies

November 21, 2014 footballnewsindia Leave a comment

According to a report in bundesliga.com TSG 1899 Hoffenheim have struck a deal with bollywood producer Ronnie Screwvala’s UniLazer Ventures to provide support for football promotion among children in India.

This initiative will begin with talent scouting at over 1000 schools across 50 cities in India says the report. Half a million children are expected to be part of this exercise. 30 selected students will get an opporutnity to travel to Germany and train with Hoffenheim. As part of this deal, Hoffenheim will help training coaches in india as well.

“TSG are the ideal partners to approach and realise these goals on a long-term basis,”. “This type of co-operation – to develop children and young players – fits perfectly with our philosophy. We can learn a lot from one another, both on and off the pitch.” said Thomas Richter, Hoffenheim’s director of sales, communication and internationalisation to bundesliga.com

There were rumors about Unilazer ventures foraying into football but nothing concrete came up. However, earlier this year Ronnie Screwvala’s firm invested in pro-kabbadi tournament and owns the Mumbai franchise Umumba in the tournament. This tie up with Hoffenheim would be Unilazer’s first attempt to foray into the bustling football scene in India.

AIFF regional academies to be consolidated in Goa

October 17, 2014 footballnewsindia Leave a comment

AIFF started off their regional academies with much fanfare and promise. However functioning of these academies are not going as per the original plan, if reports appearing in the media are true.

Players training at the regional academies in Navi Mumbai and Bangalore has been already shifted to the regional academy in Goa. Latest in the line is players at the Kalyani academy in West Bengal. Reports suggest that the only FIFA-AIFF academy in West Bengal has stopped functioning and soon will be shifted out to Goa.

“We have our own building in Goa where all the academy boys can be housed, Moreover, the cost in Kalyani is proving to be on the higher side. In Goa, it will cost less and be more convenient,” AIFF general secretary Kushal Das is quoted in a media report.

It is also reported that while AIFF’s director of Academies, Scott O’Donnell has approved of this decision, there is serious resentment within AIFF about shifting the academy from West Bengal.

Sunil Chhetri and Eric Benny launch 4v4 League in Bangalore!

October 15, 2014 footballnewsindia Leave a comment

Today, Eric Benny Sports Management took yet another step to launch a new initiative and their first chapter out of Delhi and Gurgaon. Sunil Chhetri along with Eric Benny introduced the unique 4v4 Leagues here in Bangalore that are to start in November this year.

Eric Benny introduced the gathering with a short glimpse of his journey with Indian football through various initiatives that his sports management company has launched across the northern part of India. He also focused on his unique relationship with the French Embassy here in India as well as the management’s partnership with FC Metz; a club known for producing top talent such as Robert Pires, Emmanuel Adebayor, Franck Ribery and many more.

This is a time-tested association of 3.5 years when it all began in Delhi-NCR with Eric Benny envisaging a career for young Indian interested and talented in football. The mission of this roadshow travelling from state to state within a country of over 1.2 billion population to identify at the grass root level talent and thereafter what needs to be done in terms of grooming, training, ranking, selecting the top talented children, before placing them in a world-class football academy like FC Metz in France.

Sunil Chhetri, Brand ambassador for Eric Benny Sports Management, Captain of the Indian National Team and Bengaluru Football Club, underlined that there is no lack of hard work in Indian players but “unless the teacher is good to teach the right way at the right age, and players learn to simultaneously work smart and work hard, only then can there be improvement, else a fiasco.”

After having successfully sent 9 Indian children to F C Metz, EBSM is launching on 9th November across Decathlon sites in Bangalore, 8 weeks of 4V4 football league – inviting children who are passionate about football to try and get selected for a second round of all-Indian elite pool of young footballers before attempting for the top rank in order to avail the opportunity to live their dreams of a career-breaking opportunity at F C Metz. The leagues start pretty soon and Sahil Srivastava who would be managing the Bangalore chapter of these leagues can be reached on 9986556058.

Mr. Eric Lavertu, Consul General of France, termed this as an innovative cooperation with immense potential given the young population of India. It will lead India to the best international level in the future.

Kerala to kick start beach football league

October 11, 2014 footballnewsindia Leave a comment

Kerala Football association along with Kochi based ESA media will organise the state’s first professional beach football league in Kozhikode in May 2015. Christened Kerala Beach League, the first of its kind league in the state will feature five teams, from Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam, Kozhikode, Malappuram and Kannur in the first season. There will be a Men’s league and women’s league.

The logo of the tournament was unveiled in Kochi by Kerala Football Association president K. M. A. Mather and ESA Media CEO J. B. Mathews on Friday. The league which is modeled on the Indian Super league will be feature five franchises in the first season. A team will consist of ten players with three foreigners allowed in each team. The five-a-side matches will be of 40 minutes duration.

KFA president K.M.A Mather who unveiled the logo of the league said that Kerala Beach League is the country’s first professional beach league and is an effort to keep state’s football calendar packed with action for a major part of the year.

Bengaluru FC’s Ashley Westwood interested in national team job

October 8, 2014 footballnewsindia Leave a comment

Image Courtesy : http://i-league.org

According to a report in Gulf News, Bengaluru FC coach Ashley Westwood has expressed interest in taking up the coaching role of Indian national team. All India Football Federation has to scout for a new manager for the national team after the current coach Wim Koevermans recently stepped down.

Ashely Westwood guided Bengaluru FC to last season’s I-league title. This was a remarkable achievement since it was Bengaluru FC’s debut appearance in India’s top tier league. Previously he has donned the role of assistant coach at English clubs; Portsmouth, Blackpool and Blackburn Rovers.

“If they think I’m good enough then obviously they would have to approach the club, but I don’t really know how that works, I’m just interested in doing a good job for whoever that would be. I’ve studied the opposition throughout India and watched a lot of football and I’ve watched it for a purpose and I’m learning all the time. That’s what I want to keep doing, I want to keep learning and striving and bettering myself, said Ashley Westwood to Gulf News.

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