Mumbai: Indian National football players, Subrata Paul and Gouramangi Singh are all set to fly off to Denmark for a unique three month trial with Danish premier league football club FC Vestsjælland.
In partnership with the owners of the team, Anglian Holdings, Red Bull has helped facilitate a unique opportunity for both players in a league whose winner currently gets an automatic entry in to the UEFA Champions League. This is the first time that Indian footballers have a chance at playing at a top division team anywhere in Europe.
Established in 2008, FC Vestsjælland, also known as FCV Vikings, is based in Slagelse and plays all of its home games at the Slagelse Stadium. As runners up of the 2012-13 season of the 1st Division, they won promotion in to the Superliga. For a club established only in 2008, it has been regarded a massive achievement.
Paul and Singh will travel to Slagelse from September 18th to December 15th, 2013. Both players will also undergo extensive training in technique during the trial. The goal of this experience is to help advance the level of the sport in India and to further Description: imagesIndo-Danish ties.
This move has also been supported by IMG-Reliance who have been kind enough to ensure that the players are available to participate in the entire training window and are also very positive about this opportunity.
Dhruv Ratra, CEO Anglian Holdings looks forward to the association and says, “We are very honored and excited to work with Red Bull and IMG towards the betterment of Indian football. We believe, based on our experiences with other players who have gone on trial to our club in Denmark, that not only will Subrata and Gouramangi be able to hold their own against some of the best players in Scandinavia, they will definitely open the eyes of coaches and fans there to how good Indian players are, and how with a little guidance and nurturing more Indian footballers can start plying their trade across Denmark, Scandinavia and eventually Europe.”
On getting this opportunity Subrata Paul adds, “I am really excited to get this opportunity. After my experience at Red Bull Leipzig last year, this is a great second chance to further hone my skills. I hope to give my best and make the country proud”.
