Tag: Bengaluru FC

Bengaluru FC Announces Launch of Residential Academy

As a part of their endeavour to promote elite football talents and train players from a young age, Bengaluru FC hosted a press conference earlier this week to announce their plans of setting up a residential academy at the JSW Township in Vijayanagar, Bellary. COO Mustafa Ghouse, CTO Mandar Tamhane and newly appointed Head of Youth Development, John Kila, spoke to the press from the club’s offices at Bangalore Football Stadium.

Bengaluru FC PressCon

JSW Bengaluru FC CTO Mandar Tamhane, Head of Youth Development John Kila, and COO Mustafa Ghouse
Source: Bengaluru FC Media

The club will scout for talent in Bengaluru, Kerala, Mizoram, Punjab and Chandigarh. Currently, they are only looking for youth in the Under-16 and Under-18 age categories. Those players who display exceptional talent during the first round of trials will be shortlisted, and will have to undergo a final selection, before the chosen candidates will relocate to the academy in Vijayanagar. At the academy, the selected youth will be provided with accommodation, education and nutrition at no cost with this fully-funded youth development programme overseen by Dutchman, John Kila.

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U15 Nike Premier Cup India Final Round Kicks Off

The last match of the U15 Youth League Zonal Phase concluded almost two months ago and we’re happy to report that the Final Round of the U15 League, now known as the Nike Premier Cup India, kicked off this morning in Goa. The top 12 teams from the Zonal Phase have been put into three groups and will play 18 matches over the next week. The top team from each group will secure their place in the semi-finals along with the best second placed team across all groups.

While these are all teams that have done well in the Zonal Phase, the level of competition will be significantly higher with past results counting for nothing. Everyone starts off on a clean slate and, still in its inaugural season despite the many challenges, the U15 Youth League is now coming to a head! The time has come for the boys to show their mettle.

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ASA Footballers Unbeaten in Maiden U15 Youth League Appearance

The 2015-16 season has been a great time for football at the Anantapur Sports Academy (ASA). The boys have been performing well, ever since the ASA joined hands with Fateh Hyderabad Associated Football Club (FHAFC) to support them in their I-League debut.

It all started when Fateh Hyderabad signed ASA’s senior-most player, S. Bhaskar Reddy to play for their I-League Division 2 team. This was followed by the signing of all the senior U18 ASA boys and U15 ASA boys to play in the IU18 I-League and U15 Youth Leagues for Fateh Hyderabad, respectively.

ASA Team Warms Up

Warming Up Before a Game
Source: ASA

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U15 Youth League – Zonal Phase Nears Conclusion

The zonal phase of the U15 Youth League is nearing its end. Over the past three weeks, Groups E and F played all their matches, and the last few matches of the Guwahati-Shillong Zone (Group D) were also played. Let’s take a look at some of the highlights of these matches, before we look back on how the first 6 groups ended the zonal phase.

SLFC U15 Celebrating

Shillong Lajong FC’s U15 Celebrate a Win
Source: Shillong Lajong FC Facebook Page

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Ryan International Are Bengaluru U14 Champions

BFC Soccer Shield - U14 Tournament

BFC Soccer Shield – U14 Tournament
Image Credit: Bengaluru FC

After Head Start Educational Academy and Inventure Academy clinched the U10 and U12 trophies a few days ago, it was time for Ryan International, Whitefield’s time in the sun as they claimed the inaugural Under-14 JSW Bengaluru FC Inter-School Soccer Shield. Pitted against Delhi Public School, North in the final, Ryan International’s defence held firm over the course of the game to secure a 2-0 victory.

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Head Start & Inventure Crowned Bengaluru U10 & U12 Champs

BFC Soccer Shield - U10 Winners Head Start

BFC Soccer Shield – U10 Winners Head Start Educational Academy
Image Credit: Bengaluru FC

Head Start Educational Academy and Inventure Academy were crowned champions of the inaugural JSW Bengaluru FC Inter-School Soccer Shield in the Under-10 and Under-12 categories respectively. Held at the Bangalore Football Stadium on Sunday, the proceedings began with the U10 final where Head Start took on Greenwood High for top honours.

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Bengaluru FC To Conduct Inter-School Tournament

Bengaluru FC School Tournament 2015

Bengaluru FC Launches Inter-School Tournament
Image Credit: Bengaluru FC

In a welcome move for children in the city, Bengaluru FC, among the better run clubs in Indian football, have announced the launch of their grassroots football competition for schools in conjunction with tournaments for college students and corporates. During a press conference held at the Bangalore Football Stadium yesterday, the club laid out ambitious plans to make their school competition the most sought after tournament in the city and the region.

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AIFF Conducts Grassroots Workshop for I-League Clubs

AIFF Grassroots Workshop

AIFF Grassroots Workshop in New Delhi

While the AIFF has been under fire in the past few weeks regarding the ISL and I-League mess, they are still taking positive steps in other areas – especially in regard to grassroots football in India. The governing body recently conducted a Grassroots Leaders Workshop for representatives of all I-League & 2nd Division League clubs.

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Chhetri Talks About Importance of Grassroots

Sunil Chhetri

Image Credit: AFP

India’s leading goalscorer, Sunil Chhetri, recently spoke with FIFA about football in India. Some of the points he touched upon in the interview were India’s stuttering qualifying campaign for the 2018 World Cup in Russia and the support he got from his mother and aunt who competed at international level for Nepal. But one of things that stood out in his interview was his emphasis on the way forward for Indian football to improve:

“The sooner that we create an environment and system in which every boy or girl that wants to play football – and if they are good enough – can be provided with good coaching and good facilities, then half our job is done. That is my dream and aspiration for my nation. In that case we wouldn’t have the FIFA Ranking that we have now.” – Sunil Chhetri

To read the full interview, click here.