New Delhi: FC Barcelona has become the first foreign club to set up training base of its youth development programme in India. With the launch of FCB Clinics from December 15, 2012 to January 20, 2013, the selection for the FCBEscola Academy is now in full reckoning. With 6 FCBEscola Camps completed across the country, the Clinics will be the honing ground for serious footballers to qualify for the Academy.
With India on the verge of getting the honour to host U-17 World Cup in 2017, the coming up of the Clinics and the Academy will pave way for creating footballers of tomorrow. Speaking on the development, Anu Jain, Director – Conscient Football, said, “We will be helping in creating footballers of tomorrow whose skill and talent will be at par with any top international football playing nation. It will be our endeavour to create footballers who will be able to represent India.”
The Clinics will be conducted under aegis of Antonio Claveria, Technical Director – FCBEscola India. According to Antonio, “We have been conducting FCB Camps in India since December 2011 and have found potential amongst many of the participants. While we have shortlisted potential participants from the earlier camps, the Clinics will give impetus to finalise the students who are going to be part of FCBEscola Academy.” He further added, “The Clinics will be very focussed and intensive. We will be training in the absolute Barca module and the entrants to the Academy will be handpicked.”
Development of football at the grassroots level in India is being stressed upon by FIFA. With funding of US$ 4 million to lay astro-turfs, FIFA is certainly focussing on creating an environment to promote the game at ground level. FCBEscola India in order to scout for talent will continue to hold Camps across the country with Chandigarh and Bengaluru scheduled for December 2012 and January 2013 respectively. While infrastructure plays a key role in developing a sport, marketing amongst its key audience remains the challenge.
According to Anu Jain, “Marketing of football in India is still at its nascent stage. Though the market is pegged around US$ 410 million, brand and more often than not, people are apprehensive about investing in football. We need to develop infrastructure and create heroes to bring football to a level where parents and their wards both want to be part of the football fraternity.”
“While the last FIFA World Cup saw a growth of 35% viewership in India and mostly amongst the youth, the coming of under 17 World Cup will boost the potential of football development in the country,” she added.
According to FCBEscola India, there exists a close cooperation with The Heritage School, Gurgaon to fulfil academic needs of kids selected for the academy, where by outstation kids will be given preferential admission in the school, and a select few from the economically weaker sections of the society will be provided with full scholarship at The Heritage School and the FCBEscola, if selected. Stressing on the fact that talent is spread across the country, FCBEscola India will shortlist candidates from various FCBEscola Camps. The Clinics will, however, be in Gurgaon with a satellite centre in Delhi.
By Indian Sports News Network