VIDEO: Scott O'Donell Speaks @ Budweiser 6v6 Cup Delhi Regional

At the Delhi regionals of the Budweiser 6v6 they spoke to the AIFF Director of the Regional Academies Scott O'Donell about India, its football and development.

VIDEO: Budweiser 6v6 Cup Delhi Regional Wrap

Here the Delhi Regional Wrap of the Indian-leg of the Budweiser 6v6 with statements from Indian international Robin Singh, AIFF Regional Academies Director Scott O'Donell and tournament participants.

Times Now VIDEO: Big step forward for Indian football

Here a report from Times Now on the five-day coaching seminar organised by the All India Football Federation, which has come in for praise from the participating coaches and instructors who found it quite useful.

AIFF Coaching Seminar concludes with Football Festival

Friday morning just couldn't have been brighter though dark clouds were overhead and the monsoon rains came down once in a while. But the weather failed to the dampen the spirits of the 60 kids aged 6-12 who had come over for the Football Festival at the Father Agnel School Ground in Navi Mumbai. The kids got drenched in the rain; the parents took shelter under the bright umbrellas in the galleries. None ran away. Only the kids ran with and after the ball on the turf.

"The Festival was a huge success. It was evident the kids were enjoying every bit of it. But I felt the Coaches enjoyed it more than them. It was an opportunity for the Coaches to show their personalities and behave in a practical manner," Rob Baan, the AIFF's Technical Director commented.

"It was wonderful to see a new generation enjoying themselves on the field. The challenge stays where and how do we nurture and coach them. But we will have to," Wim Koevermans, the new India National Coach opined.

Never a miser to compliment the tiny tots, the Coaches encouraged the kids as they tried to dribble, fumbled, fell down but got up immediately to recover. The 60 kids were divided into 10 teams and each of the teams got a chance to participate in each of the sessions which ranged from match to skill testing to shooting, etc.

Trisha, the sole girl among the 60 kids summed up the sentiment. "Can't we play for another ten minutes?" she queried to her coach Gautam Ghosh as the session unfolded. Every kid was presented with a football by Baan, Koevermans and Father Almeida, the Managing Director of the Father Agnel Group of Schools.

"This sort of Festival should be a part of the curriculum. We need to have ten such festivals in a week organised all over the country," said Scott O'Donell, the Technical Director of the AIFF Regional and Elite Academies.

The day also witnessed Raymond Farrelly from Coach FX making a presentation on animation analysis of various match related coaching sessions as the five-day Coaching Seminar came to an end.

"Such Seminars need to be repeated more often. We intend to organise it in every state. But the manpower and the financial aspects stay the biggest challenge," Rob Baan concluded.

Maybe the AIFF bosses are listening in the interest of Indian football.

Scott O'Donell: Do not pigeonhole your players

The future of Indian football is all about Youth Development Programme (YDP). The delicate issue that Coaching at the YDP is, was highlighted yesterday at the AIFF Coaching through the manner in which young players should to be coached.

Scott O'Donell, Technical Director of the AIFF Regional and Elite Academies urged the coaches to understand the psyche of the young kids to make the YDP an overwhelming success. "When you coach kids, you need to be a part of them. You need to reduce the anxiety and stress and make your sessions fun filled ones so that the kids long to come back to your sessions," he said.

"It's imperative to give chance to every player to play in every position till the age of 10. You need to be flexible," O'Donell added. "You should never pigeon hole your players."

The theoretical session was substantiated by two practical sessions at the Father Agnel Ground – 'Skill Testing' conducted by Technical Director Rob Baan in the morning and 'Implementing Match Related Coaching into AFC Coaching Courses' was conducted both by Baan and O'Donell.

"When you coach young players, you need to focus on the technical side rather than the tactical strategies. The boys need to enjoy and start loving the sport. Only then can you develop them into good players," O'Donell reiterated. "The players need to be involved all the time. Give them the licence to be creative so that technically, they are able to make the right choice."

The five-day Seminar concludes today when a Grassroots Festival will be organised in the morning followed by a guest lecture from Raymond Farrelly from Coach FX and a Group Discussion in the afternoon.

AIFF Coaching Seminar gets positive Feedback from Participants

After getting off to a slow start the ongoing All India Football Federation Coaching Seminar in Navi Mumbai came in for praise from the participating Coaches and Instructors. The facilities at the seminar hotel, the food and the arrangements, the logistics and most importantly, the knowledge being passed on have simply bowled over the 65 participants.

Former India Captain, creative midfielder Prasanta Banerjee says, "I came here expecting value addition. Rob Baan, Wim Koevermans and Scott O'Donell are laying emphasis on building from the back. Modern football is all about looking forward. The finer aspects of 4-3-3 is being stressed upon," he says.

"The Seminar is a fantastic initiative which was long overdue," commented Pradhyum Reddy Shillong Lajong's Scottish born coach. "I only hope this is the first of many more such Seminars. There has always been a disconnect between the National Coach and the Coaches at the top level with the Club Coaches and Coaches at the development level," he adds.

"In the UK and the US, such Coaching Conventions stay common where the philosophy is taught and told and the participants become more responsible learning the finer aspects."

The Seminar which comprises of both theoretical and practical sessions is being held at the Royal Orchid Hotel in Navi Mumbai and the Father Agnel School Ground, respectively.

There's a buzz every morning. The participants look smart in their kits, sign the attendance sheet, take their seats and then the notes. "It reminds me of my school days," smiles former India winger Gautam Ghosh. "We need to be flexible to envelope the extra bit of knowledge. If you have any ego, you will not learn."

Ghosh's room partner Tanumoy Basu, a former India goalkeeper presently the Goalkeeping Coach of the India Under-22s and Pailan Arrows feels, "the Seminar reflects the positive mindset of the All India Football Federation."

"The Academies promise us the future; Pailan Arrows builds up towards the future; Seminars like this explain to us what is needed to get to the future. And mind you, all of them are being stitched in one thread. The YDP is in full flow and there's synchronisation among all. I credit and thank (Kushal) Das for his efforts," Basu maintains.

You reflect for a moment and understand Basu is right. Former National Coach Savio Medeira complements Basu. "As a Coach you need to enhance yourself and stay updated. The handbook provided is very useful indeed," he opines.

"There's no more confusion. The Technical Director has told us what he wants us to do with our clubs," Godfrey Pereira, newly appointed Air India coach and also a former India International says. "The practices need to be match centric. There can't be any static movements. You always need to move and run with the ball. There's a more realistic and definite approach. I need to thank AIFF for arranging such a seminar."

You move around. There's a team working 24x7 supervising the facilities at the Hotel, the food, the daily needs and taking care of the logistics. "I'd say here's quality all around. The clothing provided to us have been good and I appreciate the treatment and the pain taken to make us comfortable," Ajit Braich, someone who has come all the way from Canada, explains. Braich stays the Head Youth Coach at Vancouver Whitecaps.

"I have attended many such Seminars and I need to tell you the sessions have been informative. In Football you can't beat around the bush and that's what is being stressed upon. I credit the AIFF for the initiative," he comments.

Syed Shabir Pasha, also a former India International adds, "Every theory is being backed and demonstrated in the practical sessions. That's what enlightens a Coach," Pasha echoes.

Rob Baan: Promise that you will scout me a kid in 30 days!

The All India Football Federation's Technical Director Rob Baan made an emotional request to the 65 participants of the AIFF Coaching Seminar by asking them, "Promise me, all of you will come back to me within a month with a kid who you believe has the potential to play for India in the future," Baan utters. "You are my scouts. By now, you ought to know as to what kind of player I am looking for," he adds. "Can You? Promise me," Baan stresses again.

"Yes we will," the Coaches and the Instructors answer back.

"You can even give me more than one boy," Baan goes further. "We will have a trial for the kid and if we find him good enough, we will enroll him," he informed.

The Dutchman is clear that he alone cannot change Indian football and that coaches working at the grassroots have to work with him to develop Indian football and especially scout and find young talented footballers.

On the other side the age-old issue of age-fraud stays the biggest challenge for the AIFF at the moment; and at the Coaching Seminar in Navi Mumbai, the issue just makes rounds almost everyday.

"This has been prevalent for long. The State Associations need to be more serious," Colm Joseph Toal, Head Coach Youth Development, adds. "Just look what happened in the camp in Kalyani," Colm shakes his head.

With a vision to get boys for the four Regional Academies, the AIFF, had since September 2011 scouted over 170 boys from various age-group tournaments, Under-14 Fests and Open Trials which were conducted across the length and breadth of the country by Baan and Scott O'Donell, Technical Director, Regional and Elite Academies.

The selected U-14 boys were then kept in a Camp in Kalyani for over a month after which the list was filtered to a final list of 120. But when medically tested, 84 out of 120 were found overage. The Camp was for U-14 boys but some of them were found to be even over 17!

"It seems, we just need to conduct tests almost everyday," Colm shrugs. "The money went waste, the effort and energy went waste; it's so much frustrating and discouraging for the development of the sport in the country," he laments.

The result was for all to see. The launch of the AIFF Regional Academies had to be delayed. "But they stay on track. We have to have them and we will," O'Donell informs. The second AIFF Regional Academy is all set to launch in Bangalore in September 2012 and then the next one at Pailan World School in Kolkata later this year.

"Open Trials are not a realistic approach," O’Donell exclaims. "In Kolkata, we had over 1000 boys appearing for the trials. It's hard to handle that much of a lot."

Toal hits the nail on the head when he says, "It's about the honesty of individuals. Be it Coaches, be it Administrators, somewhere people stay desperate to win even at the U-14 level. But at that level, it's all about development than winning," he echoes.

AIFF's Medical Consultant Dr. Manabendra Bhattacharya who's also attending the Seminar feels 'age verification is a complicated process'.

"This is rampant across all age groups and all sports. But how do you stop it. Off-course, we can determine it by tests; tests which reveal the dental age, secondary sexual characters and the bone age," he informed.

It is a difficult task for Rob Baan. His wait continues – the Coaches are supposed to get back to him within a month.

Colm Toal: Coaches need to differentiate between winning and development

Colm Joseph Toal, the AIFF's Head Coach Youth Development and the man who has over the last few years given India's Youth system some structure, expressed his views on the current state of National Youth Teams.

In Colm's presentation which was appreciated by all, Toal encouraged all the participants to "express their opinions".

"We need to talk and question each other. Coaching is all about opinion and nothing is correct and definite. The more the opinion, the more the ideation," Colm defined.

"It's imperative to understand the difference between winning and development," Colm further added. "At the Youth Development Programme, winning doesn't matter; but development does. You all as Coaches need to differentiate it. It's necessary to strike the balance and marry both," he maintained.

Earlier in the day, Pradip Dutta, AIFF Fitness Coach, struck a balance on the Physical Preparation of Young Players. An AFC Elite Panel Instructor, Dutta emphasized on the recovery of players, as he spoke at length about the dominant energy systems, ergo genesis, energy suppliers, limiting factors and training objectives. He also highlighted the comparison between early specialization and multilateral development and also on duration of exercises.

Significantly enough, he brought forward injury prevention techniques and a periodization model for long term strength training.

Scott O'Donell, the Technical Director of the AIFF Regional and Elite Academies, dished out the Plan for future AIFF Regional and Elite Academies. "We need to create a Nationwide scouting network to ensure we produce future World Class Players."

The practical session for the day was conducted by AIFF Technical Director Rob Baan as he demonstrated various skill training techniques at Father Agnel's Training Ground.


The list of participants

Godfrey Pereira, Noushad Moosa, Kundan Chandran, Shaikh Arshad Hussain, Abdul Azim Siddique, Nirvan Shah, Aqueel Ansari, Khalid Jamil, Raghuvir Pravin Khanolkar, Augusto D'Silva, Faruk Ahmed, Mohammed Yusuf Ansari (all Maharashtra); Birbal Singh, Ekendra Singh, Bitan Singh (all Manipur); R. Thyagraj, Stanley Rozario, Thomas Joseph, John Kenneth Raj, Mastan Ahmed, P. Muralidharan (all Karnataka), Prasanta Banerjee, Gautam Ghosh (both West Bengal), Parthasarathy Thulasi, Syed Sabir Pasha, C.M. Ranjith (all Tamil Nadu); S. Geevarghese, C.J. Charles, P.M. Saji, Biby Thomas, Satheevan Balan, Feroz Sheriff, Narayana Menon (all Kerala); William Koso (Nagaland); Maymol Rocky, Marcus Anthony Pachecho, Francisco Bruto da Costa, Jude Barreto, Savio Medeira, Mario Aguiar (all Goa), Tarun Roy, Anadi Baruah (both Delhi); Sajid Yusuf, Hilal Parray (both J&K); Surinder Singh (Chandigarh)

Coaches from Clubs/Academies: Tanumoy Basu (Pailan Arrows); Bino George (Chirag United Kerala), Arun Pratap (Chirag United Kerala Academy); Deepak (Kerala FA Academy); Sujay Sharma, Arata Izumi (both Pune FC); Ahmed Aslam Khan (SAI, Bangalore); Mathew D'Costa, Gavin Araujo (both Dempo); Augustine Antao, Joaquim Crasto (both Salgaocar); Suren Chhetri, Pranai Subba (both United Sikkim FC); Richard Hood (Tata Football Academy); Manoj Kumar (SEPT, Calicut); Pradyuman Reddy (Shillong Lajong FC); Sunil Chaudhury, Cetano Pinho (both ONGC); Ajit Braich (Canada)

AIFF Coaching Seminar kicks-off in Navi Mumbai

The first-ever AIFF Coaching Seminar kicked-off in Navi Mumbai today with 65 participants coming to listen to Technical Director Rob Baan, National Coach Wim Koevermans, Technical Director of the Regional and Elite Academies Scott O'Donell besides AIFF General Secretary Kushal Das and former India Captain Baichung Bhutia.

Amongst the 65 participants there are numerous former players around; players whom we all have adored over the years. There's Prasanta Banerjee, there's Godfrey Pereira, there's Tanumoy Basu, there's Khalid Jamil, there's Syed Sabir Pasha, there's Savio Medeira, there's Aqueel Ansari, there's Noushad Moosa… the list just seems to have no end.

The aim of the Seminar is to produce better coaches and players with a 'match related approach'.

AIFF Technical Director Rob Baan conducted the first session of the Seminar, his 'Vision to develop Indian Football'. That was followed by National Coach Wim Koevermans' session in the afternoon – 'What is Football?' while Baan’s practical session, 'Coaching, the Match related Approach,' stayed the last session of the day.

The India Under-17 National squad who trains at the Centre of Excellence in Goa and has come over to Navi Mumbai to take part in the practical sessions stayed Baan's wards as the Technical Director demonstrated the 'Match Related Approach' and had interactive sessions with the Coaches.

Earlier, AIFF General Secretary Kushal Das welcomed the guests and spoke on the ‘Long-term future of Indian Football', while guest speaker former India Captain Baichung Bhutia shared his experiences.

"It's imperative we all understand the future philosophy of Indian football," Das said. "The Seminar stays a significant step taken by our Technical Team as we need to look forward," he added.

"Coach Education stays perhaps the most significant aspect if we are to create an Indian style of play as we have intended," Baan stressed.

"To improve the standard of the football in the country, we need to select the best players. But prior to that, we need to train and groom them. We as Coaches stay responsible for that," O'Donell, who will be conducting both theoretical and practical sessions in the next four days, emphasized.

The theoretical sessions are being held at the Royal Orchid Hotel in Navi Mumbai while the practical sessions at the Father Agnel ground, where the first AIFF Regional Academy is based.

National Coach Wim Koevermans maintained the Seminar gives one an opportunity to 'express himself'.

"The next five-days are important. The philosophy needs to be understood by all," Koevermans, who was a part of the Dutch squad which win the 1988 European Cup, opined.

"Let's not stay stuck in the 60s and the 70s. Let's embrace the new concepts," Baichung commented. "From my experience, I have starved for the right kind of training for long. This initiative by AIFF is an excellent one. It's the right beginning," he added.


The list of participants

Godfrey Pereira, Noushad Moosa, Kundan Chandran, Shaikh Arshad Hussain, Abdul Azim Siddique, Nirvan Shah, Aqueel Ansari, Khalid Jamil, Raghuvir Pravin Khanolkar, Augusto D'Silva, Faruk Ahmed, Mohammed Yusuf Ansari (all Maharashtra); Birbal Singh, Ekendra Singh, Bitan Singh (all Manipur); R. Thyagraj, Stanley Rozario, Thomas Joseph, John Kenneth Raj, Mastan Ahmed, P. Muralidharan (all Karnataka), Prasanta Banerjee, Gautam Ghosh (both West Bengal), Parthasarathy Thulasi, Syed Sabir Pasha, C.M. Ranjith (all Tamil Nadu); S. Geevarghese, C.J. Charles, P.M. Saji, Biby Thomas, Satheevan Balan, Feroz Sheriff, Narayana Menon (all Kerala); William Koso (Nagaland); Maymol Rocky, Marcus Anthony Pachecho, Francisco Bruto da Costa, Jude Barreto, Savio Medeira, Mario Aguiar (all Goa), Tarun Roy, Anadi Baruah (both Delhi); Sajid Yusuf, Hilal Parray (both J&K); Surinder Singh (Chandigarh)

Coaches from Clubs/Academies: Tanumoy Basu (Pailan Arrows); Bino George (Chirag United Kerala), Arun Pratap (Chirag United Kerala Academy); Deepak (Kerala FA Academy); Sujay Sharma, Arata Izumi (both Pune FC); Ahmed Aslam Khan (SAI, Bangalore); Mathew D'Costa, Gavin Araujo (both Dempo); Augustine Antao, Joaquim Crasto (both Salgaocar); Suren Chhetri, Pranai Subba (both United Sikkim FC); Richard Hood (Tata Football Academy); Manoj Kumar (SEPT, Calicut); Pradyuman Reddy (Shillong Lajong FC); Sunil Chaudhury, Cetano Pinho (both ONGC); Ajit Braich (Canada)

AIFF Coaching Seminar to highlight on 'Match related' Coaching

A five-day Coaching Seminar organised by the All India Football Federation kicks-off in Navi Mumbai tomorrow. The Seminar, a first of its kind in India, will be conducted by AIFF Technical Director Rob Baan, National Coach Wim Koevermans and Scott O'Donell, Technical Director of the Regional and Elite Academies.

Colm Joseph Toal, Head Coach, Youth Development will also be expressing his views at the Seminar, while former India captain Baichung Bhutia will be a guest speaker as will be the AIFF General Secretary Kushal Das. Raymond Farrelly of Coach FX will also attend as a Guest Speaker.

65 Coaches from all over India including AIFF Contracted Coaches and Coaches from I-League Clubs have confirmed their participation. The Seminar intends to educate and produce better Coaches and players via "match related" coaching.

Baan feels it will be "nice to interact with so many Coaches in the Seminar."

"I look forward to receiving inputs from all of them," Baan added.

The opening day kicks-off with Kushal Das dishing out plans for the long term future of Indian football with Baan and Koevermans conducting sessions on 'Overall vision to improve Indian Football' and "What is football?," respectively while Bhutia stays the guest speaker. In the afternoon, Baan and O’Donell would also be conducting the theoretical session, 'Coaching, the match related approach.'

The theoretical sessions would be held at the Royal Orchid Hotel while the practical sessions will be conducted at the Father Agnel School ground where the first AIFF Regional Academy is located.


The list of participants

Godfrey Pereira, Noushad Moosa, Kundan Chandran, Shaikh Arshad Hussain, Abdul Azim Siddique, Nirvan Shah, Aqueel Ansari, Khalid Jamil, Raghuvir Pravin Khanolkar, Augusto D'Silva, Faruk Ahmed, Mohammed Yusuf Ansari (all Maharashtra); Birbal Singh, Ekendra Singh, Bitan Singh (all Manipur); R. Thyagraj, Stanley Rozario, Thomas Joseph, John Kenneth Raj, Mastan Ahmed, P. Muralidharan (all Karnataka), Prasanta Banerjee, Gautam Ghosh (both West Bengal), Parthasarathy Thulasi, Syed Sabir Pasha, CM Ranjith (all Tamil Nadu); S. Geevarghese, C.J. Charles, P.M. Saji, Biby Thomas, Satheevan Balan, Feroz Sheriff, Narayana Menon (all Kerala); William Koso (Nagaland); Maymol Rocky, Marcus Pachecho, Francisco Bruto da Costa, Jude Barreto, Savio Medeira, Mario Aguiar (all Goa), Tarun Roy, Anadi Baruah (both Delhi); Sajid Yusuf, Hilal Parray (both J&K); Surinder Singh (Chandigarh)

Coaches from Clubs/Academies: Tanumoy Basu (Pailan Arrows); Bino George (Chirag United Kerala), Arun Pratap (Chirag United Kerala Academy); Deepak (Kerala FA Academy); Sujay Sharma, Arata Izumi (both Pune FC); Ahmed Aslam Khan (SAI, Bangalore); Mathew D'Costa, Gavin Araujo (both Dempo); Augustine Antao, Joaquim Crasto (both Salgaocar); Suren Chhetri, Pranai Subba (both United Sikkim FC); Richard Hood (Tata Football Academy); Manoj Kumar (SEPT, Calicut); Pradyuman Reddy (Shillong Lajong FC); Sunil Chaudhury, Cetano Pinho (both ONGC); Ajit Braich (Canada)

Five-day AIFF Coaching Seminar to be held from July 16

The All India Football Federation will be organising a five-day Coaching Seminar in Navi Mumbai from July 16 to 20. The AIFF's Technical Director Rob Baan; National Coach Wim Koevermans; the Technical Director of the Regional and Elite Academies Scott O'Donell, Head Coach of the Youth Development programme Colm Joseph Toal will be addressing the Seminar.

The Opening day will also have former India captain Bhaichung Bhutia as a Guest Speaker and the AIFF General Secretary Kushal Das will be addressing the gathering on the long-term future of Indian football.

"We have invited around 70 coaches for the seminar including all the Coaches from all the I-League Clubs and all AIFF Contracted Coaches," Kushal Das informed.

"The Seminar gives us the opportunity to exchange knowledge and discuss our new vision for the future development of Indian football," said AIFF Technical Director Rob Baan. "We also hope the coaches will provide us a lot of inputs," Baan added.

Baan, Koevermans and O'Donell would also be imparting practical session classes to the participants. The theoretical sessions would be held at the Royal Orchid Hotel in Navi Mumbai while the Practical Sessions would be conducted at the Father Agnel School Ground in Navi Mumbai where the AIFF's First Regional Academy has been set-up.

"This is the first major Coaching Clinic organised by AIFF's Technical Team. It will showcase the new philosophy which is being implemented in Indian football in terms of Coach Education, style of play and talent development," Kushal Das maintained.

"I'm sure the Seminar would unearth some exciting young concepts which will serve Indian football in good stead in the future."

There would also be separate sessions conducted by Dr. Manabendra Bhattacharya on Medical Care and Treatment of youth players (including age verification) and one by Pradip Dutta on Physical Preparation of young players.

VIDEO - NDTV: Discussion on Indian football & Drogba

News channel NDTV aired a football special yesterday coinciding with the visit of international football star Didier Drogba for the Pepsi T20 Football grand finale in the capital New Delhi.

Guests on the show were Indian football icon Baichung Bhutia, Shillong Lajong FC owner Larsing Ming Sawyan and AIFF Director of Regional Academies Scott O'Donell. The trio had an interesting discussion with the moderator on a range of issues besides giving some insights on Indian football.

VIDEO: Documentary on Launch of first AIFF Regional Academy

The All India Football Federation in collaboration with world football governing body FIFA launched its first Regional Academy at the Father Agnel School premises in Vashi, Navi Mumbai on May 1, 2012. This is the first of four such Academies to come-up across India and here a documentary on the launch and reactions from key stakeholders and personal involved in the Academy.

AIFF's First Regional Academy opens in Navi Mumbai

The first All India Football Federation's Regional Academy in collaboration with FIFA opened at the Father Agnel School premises in Vashi, Navi Mumbai earlier today. Twenty Under-15 boys including two goalkeepers will be a part of the Residential Academy at the School premises.

Scott O'Donell, Technical Director of the AIFF Regional and Elite Academies conducted the first training session which was more of 'fun than intensive training'.

"It's imperative that the boys settle down. Hence, we will stress on fun sessions for the first few days. Form thereon, we move into intense training," Scott O'Donell, stressed.

Colm Toal, Head Coach of the AIFF Youth Development and National Team Coach Savio Medeira were also part of the first training session.

"The Academies would provide the National Coach more options when he sits down to choose the Indian squad in the future," Colm Toal maintained.

"This was long due," Savio commented. "All India Football Federation's effort is laudable indeed."

The AIFF General Secretary Kushal Das said, "The future of Indian football lies in the youth. This is AIFF's first Regional Academy and we stay committed to open more Regional Academies."

"The entire focus stays on creating World Class Players for the future," he added.

Father Saturnino Almeida, Managing Director of Father Agnel Schools who has been running from pillar to post to get everything in perfect shape, said "the Academy is all about the future!"

"This is a fantastic opportunity where two social institutions of India come together to serve the future of the country in Academies and Football," the Father explained.

Former Indian international Aqeel Ansari will be the Assistant Coach at the Academy while Ms. Sonika Sudan has been appointed as the Physiotherapist and Shailesh Karkera has been appointed the Academy Manager.

AIFF organised Coaches Workshop concludes in New Delhi

The three-day Coaches Workshop for Coaches concluded at the Ambedkar Stadium in Delhi earlier today. The Workshop which was conducted by AIFF Technical Director Rob Baan and Scott O'Donell, Technical Manager for Regional and Elite Academies, was attended by 12 Indian Coaches plus a Coach from Australia.

This was the second such Workshop which was organised by the All India Football Federation – the earlier one being held in the Capital from January 13 - 15, 2012.

The Workshop came in for praise from the participants. Former Team India Assistant Coach Stanley Rozario, who has also coached the Kolkata Big-Two, felt the Workshop was a breath of fresh air. "It was nice to refresh myself. Such a Workshop was long due and it was nice to be a part of it. Both Rob and Scott stressed on playing possessional football. It was great to interact with them," Stanley said.

Narayana Menon, India's Under-23 Assistant Coach at the Pre-Olympic qualifiers, added, "The focus is now shifting on the juniors. The intention is to create players who will be the flag-bearer for Indian football in the future. My only regret stays that it only lasted three days. It would have been excellent if we could spend more time at the Workshop."

The Workshop had different Theoretical and Practical Sessions – while the Theoretical sessions were held at Clarks Inn at Lajpat Nagar, the practical sessions were conducted at the Ambedkar Stadium.

Besides the Indian coaches, Arthur Pappas from Australia also attended the Workshop and said "it was nice to be in India."

"It is very important for Indian football to develop Indian Coaches. The Workshop was very innovative and helpful indeed," Arthur explained.

"This concept was a new one. The Workshop highlighted a style which Rob and Scott believe will take Indian football forward. I thank the All India Football Federation for arranging such a Workshop," Meghalaya's Thangboi Singto, Shillong Lajong FC's Assistant Coach, commented.

The list of the coaches stay as follows:

Thangboi Singto (Meghalaya), Satheevan Balan, Narayana Menon (both Kerala), Stanley Rozario (Karnataka), Subrata Bhattacharya, Satyabrata Bhowmick, Mridul Kanti Banerjee, Ranjan Bhattacharya (all West Bengal), Anadi Barua (Delhi), Santanu Basu, Bidhan Das (both Assam), Keshav Dutt (Haryana)

Toal: Two-month long camp awaits the selected U-14 kids

Colm Joseph Toal, the Head Coach of the AIFF Youth Development, is one of the most underrated persons working in Indian football. Since he has come to India over four years back, he has done his job in Indian football youth development quietly. Now with the four Regional Academies soon to be set-up and the AIFF U-14 Football Fest being used to spot talent for these Academies, it marks a new era in Indian football. The AIFF Spoke to Colm about the U-14 Fest, the selection process and the future of Indian football.


There were nine selectors in the AIFF U-14 Football Fest in Kalyani, West Bengal. How many boys have they spotted?

The nine selectors have had a close look at all the boys and we have spotted 75 boys from different state teams who would be a part of a future Coaching-cum-Selection Camp beginning in March.


How long would the Camp last? Would you have a look at more boys in the Camp?

We intend to begin the Camp from the second week of March. The 75 boys chosen from the Fest would be there for three weeks from which 30 boys would be shortlisted. The shortlisted 30 kids would represent India in the AFC U-14 Football Festival scheduled to be held in Kathmandu, Nepal.

The 30 boys would then be joined by a new bunch. The lot would comprise of boys chosen from the Subroto Cup, the U-16 Nationals (boys born in 1998) and the set of boys chosen by Scott O'Donell from Open Trials. The Camp would go on till mid-May from which the batches for the Regional Academies would be finalised.


Are you satisfied with the quality of the boys you have chosen from the AIFF U-14 Football Fest?

The boys are good but are not necessarily the best in the country. The same pertains to the set of boys who were shortlisted from the U-16 National Championship. It's unfortunate the State Associations are not selecting and sending their best teams for such Championships.


Could you elaborate?

I can give you an example. The Meghalaya State Football Association had a three-week Preparatory Camp ahead of the AIFF U-14 Football Fest. They had 18 district teams playing against each other from where they selected the best boys. And it's evident in their play in Kalyani. Had all State Associations addressed it likewise, we could have got the best boys playing here.


Are you happy with the manner the AIFF U-14 Football Fest has been conducted?

Kalyani is a small suburban town and arranging a fest of such a magnitude without any hiccups speaks volumes for the organisers. We shouldn't forget we had 590 boys from 27 State Teams staying, eating, travelling and playing together.

I wish we had more fields of the same quality in other States as the two playing fields at the Kalyani Stadium. The infrastructure here is magnificent!

Scott O'Donell: I have spotted some exceptional boys!

Even as 590 kids from all over the Country play football in the best ground of the country in the AIFF U-14 Football Fest, the AIFF spotters keep a close eye on all of them.

Scott O'Donell, the Technical Manager of the AIFF's Regional and Elite Academies spoke at length to the AIFF on the significance of the Fest, the plans ahead and other related issues like the upcoming Premier League Soccer in Bengal.


What is the significance of the AIFF U-14 Football Fest?

The Fest forms an integral part of the selection for the future (Indian) National Team. At the moment, we would be recruiting boys for the Regional Academies from the (AIFF U-14 Football) Fest. There are State Teams who are making a significant progress on the field as we are progressing. The momentum is picking up.


Are you impressed with the quality of the boys?

This is just the second day of the Fest. As we progress, we would be having stronger teams playing against each other. That would be fun. But yeah, the quality of some boys from Mizoram and Meghalaya, have been exceptional.


Do such Fests form the bedrock of developed Footballing Nations?

Not always. For example, in Australia, the National Championships form the platform for the future. In an ideal situation, the best talent was supposed to be at such a tournament. But I understand that doesn't always happen here. Hence, we are looking for more options.


What's your take on the Premier League Soccer?

I am amazed at the amount of money that's involved in it. The salary being offered to a single player can give us a few turfs for the kids to train. If there's any future of football in India, it lies in the Youth Development Programme. It needs to be a long-term plan. But sadly, not all realise that. I personally believe, if you invest in such a concept, it won't help Indian Football at all.