In a country like ours, where cricket has almost become a religion, it is refreshing to see people with a passion for football sharing their love with children. Atul Gupta and Arpreet Singh Bajaj are two such individuals who decided they wanted to pass on their fondness of the sport, and they both quit their jobs in finance to start Soccer Schools of Excellence (SSE) in 2010. They set up SSE with the aim of providing young sports enthusiasts in India with a complete football education. While over 800 children have signed up for their various classes through the week, SSE is hoping to reach out to more NGOs in the future, and touch the lives of those who are not as lucky as them through football.
“At SSE, our aim is to ensure that children of all ages and from all backgrounds are given an opportunity to play and enjoy the beautiful game in the best possible spirit. Our curriculum is set in such a way that children start developing a love for the sport at a young age. Our eventual aim is to help promote Indian Football and take it to the next level.” – Atul Gupta, Founder of SSE
The Technical Director of Coaching at SSE is none other than Hugh Kim Lewis, an A licensed UEFA coach who comes to India and SSE after coaching teams like Portsmouth Football Club, and AFC Bournemouth Football Club. His experience is certainly a benefit to the club, and gives the players at SSE a lot to look forward to. Over the last 5 years, SSE has worked with a number of international coaches and organisations, so the curriculum at the school is a beautiful amalgamation of the best football techniques from across the world.
Children Enjoy an SSE Training Session
Image Credit: SSE Website
Age is clearly no bar when it comes to sport, and SSE proves this by providing training for those as young as 3, and as old as 45. Coaching for children is a little more structured than the Free Age classes on weekends. There are different age brackets for children, and the way they are taught the sport differs greatly to cater specifically to their age group. For children under the age of 5, the focus is more on coordination, motor skills, and the game being fun. On the other hand, those between the ages of 13 and 16 at SSE are trained to develop their tactical understanding of the game.
An SSE Champions League Match Underway
Image Credit: SSE Website
There is a clear dearth of opportunities in India for children to play competitive football, and SSE hopes to rectify this through the numerous leagues that they have set up. Their most popular league is the SSE Champions League, and they are currently gearing up for the 5th season, which starts on the 15th of November. The idea behind the league is to provide SSE students with a chance to experience healthy competition, while also teaching them the importance of playing as a team. With only 5 players on each side, and 3 rolling subs, each game helps in developing the all-round player. Matches are held on Sunday mornings, ensuring it doesn’t interfere with children’s regular schooling, and parents are also encouraged to participate as coaches, making the League a fun experience for the entire family. The League has done well so far, and with football becoming popular in the city, we can’t wait to see the turn out this year!
To register for the Champions League write to sseunited@gmail.com or call +91 96999 50811.
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