Mumbai FC and Millennium Sports will kick start Grassroots Football Training Centres at various locations in the city and its periphery.
This Mumbai FC and Millennium Sports Grassroots Football Project aims to identify, develop and nurture future football stars. It seeks to attract 6-12 year old boys & girls to train in football in a fun based environment, thus creating an enjoyable experience for the child. The Grassroots Centres will be structured with FIFA Approved Grassroots Training Philosophy, Child Protection Policy, Licensed Coaches, and Standardized Scientific Session Plans. The curriculum seeks to ensure comprehensive skill and physical development of the child along while involving and educating parents, teachers and community through periodic workshops.
Elated at the announcement, Mumbai FC Dy. Vice President Atul Badgamia says, “Millennium Sports is an important partner for us in implementing this project with their proficiency in various sports verticals. They have immaculate experience and expertise in implementing such programmes in other sports. In the long run, our aim is to create a strong grassroots system which would lead to robust youth and senior teams, made up of home grown players. Grassroots Football is very critical for this to happen and will form the crux of our football philosophy. We hope that these kids would eventually go on to represent our senior team as well as Mumbai, Maharashtra and India.”
Founder & CEO of Millennium Sports Chinar Deshpande states, "Our partnership with Mumbai FC is an ideal example of how Millennium Sports is executing its growth strategy aggressively. Our vision is to set up a complete platform for any sportsman or sports enthusiast to pursue their sporting interest under one umbrella. Hence we are set out to build a 360 degree sports business covering sports coaching, sports events, sports retail, sports infrastructure, sports medicine, sports education and sports career management. Our relationship with Mumbai FC is long-term; and this grassroots program is just a stepping stone for us to grow our football vertical in a very systematic way and we are committed to go beyond just coaching and extend all other business services to this relationship."
The centres seek to inspire more kids to train in scientific professional football training methods. Community involvement will play a major role in the Grassroots programmes as Mumbai FC and Millennium Sports seek to engage local schools, teachers, parents and other stakeholders. The kids will avail coaching 3 times a week with a ratio of 15-18 kids per coach to ensure individual attention as well as periodic football festivals.
Mumbai FC Head Coach Khalid Jamil believes that the club is moving in the right direction with this project. He explains “This is a great opportunity to build a strong future for Mumbai football. We have already seen results of our past youth football initiatives yielding players like Rohit Mirza, Ashutosh Mehta, Dane Pereira, Jayesh Rane, Manuel D’Souza, John Coutinho, etc. who have progressed through the ranks to our senior team today. Our vision is that kids from grassroots progress under our watchful eyes and help the club reach the top echelons of club football in Asia.”
Mumbai FC Head of Youth Development, Kundan Chandra, who will be spearheading this initiative explains, “It is football for all; irrespective of caste, creed and gender. It focuses on development before winning. It involves small sided games and age specific activities where football is a medium to inculcate values of life. Our aim is to create a vibrant football culture and make football the top sport in Mumbai. We are fully responsible to ensure that these boys and girls are given all the support in terms of training, knowledge and expertise to become top football professionals in India. ”
The programme’s ability to connect, engage and mobilize the entire football community will help to achieve tangible results as well as foster the value and positive characteristics amongst the youth through football. The long term plan is to establish top quality football coaching centres across Maharashtra and India which will be affordable for children from all sections of the society.
Mumbai FC and Millennium Sports aim to start 20 Grassroots Football Coaching Centres by December 2015.
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