Have a ball at footie fest
Football fever is set to grip the city as around 400 teams gear up for the Football Link International Festival. The week-long extravaganza, which aims at promoting the sport in the country, will bring together coaches and scouts from international clubs like AC Milan, Glasgow’s Ranger’s FC and Manchester City along with 4,000 footballers from the country.
“We are without doubt a cricket-crazy nation, but there is no dearth of football lovers, especially among the youth. This fest is going to certify that,” says Chetan Misra, founder, The Football Link.
“Football is the most popular sport in the world, and in the 50s and 60s it was no less popular in India. It is also a very inexpensive sport and can be taken to every section of the society,” says Chetan, who during his stay in the US researched on how the country has taken soccer to the grassroot, and has been using it as a tool of social development.
“With this fest we are trying to put in place a model for a developing country like India, involving institutions like schools, parents, government and NGOs, and take the sport to all,” he adds.
So, the action-packed week will also witness the participation of 64 corporate teams, 64 school teams, 265 open teams along with eight NGOs like Salaam Balak Trust and Literacy India. Meanwhile, Benny Joseph, coach, St. Columbus school is participating in the festival with a squad of 18 boys. The coach considers the festival a ‘sports clinic’ for the best talent to be identified and groomed.
“The idea is to give budding footballers an international gaming exposure. Only recently, one of our students was picked up by the Bolton Wanderers FC and another one won a prestigious UK scholarship. Given their success, other students also feel encouraged to pursue the game,” he says.
“Budding players can benefit from seminars, discussions and coaching drills by experts. Also, skill evaluation tests for different age groups will be undertaken at the event,” informs football coach Govardhan of DPS RK Puram. Footballer Arjun Singh, 24, is ready with his team Arancia for the big show. “We are participating to play and win. But we will also seek the opportunity of battling many teams and meeting international trainers,” he says.
“What if football is not our game, but if we have the passion for it, and international exposure, we can definitely dominate the sport one day. I choose to be a footballer, and not a cricketer. After all football is a world sport,” says Shalil Sinha, a student who’s also playing in the festival.
The Football Link International Festival begins from October 6
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