Football camp organized for coaches in Punjab

AMRITSAR - To make the Indian football team’s presence felt in the international arena, local coaches gathered in Punjab’s Quadian town to receive training from when a section of international coaches, handling the best football teams of the world.

Aimed at producing world-class football players, the a five-day football-coaching clinic, the first of its kind in the country, provided an unique opportunity for coaches to share new techniques and skills with their counterparts from Liverpool football club and Tanzania football team.

More than 50 coaches from across the country participated in the camp that was held with the co-operation of Majlis Khudam-Ul-Ahmadiyya, Ahmadiyya sports club and UK-based Elite Football Club.

“This training camp has been organized in Punjab, especially in Qadian, which is considered a backward area, because a good sportsman can come from any area. If we analyze this, then in the urban areas there is less interest in sports as they lack proper playing areas,” said Maqbool Ahmed, spokesman of the Ahmadiyya community.

“In rural areas, there is more interest in sports and a majority of the players come from the villages. To attract more youngsters is the main aim of organizing this camp,” he added.

Manjinder Kaur, a football coach, said that many budding players came to take a look at the training by the foreign coaches.

“They are encouraged by the presence of foreign coaches from whom they can take a few tips. They want to play quality games like the foreign countries. It’s a good effort that needs to be continued,” Kaur added.

While, Alias Rao, another coach, said that the coaches were lucky to have experts from Liverpool football club sharing their knowledge.

“They are aware of the latest techniques and we got an opportunity to learn a lot during this camp. We will share this experience with players who are training under our guidance,” Rao said.

Though the foreign coaches had language problems in communicating with their Indian counterparts, but the Indian coaches managed to pick up what was being said.

Impressed by their preparedness and techniques, local coaches showed eagerness to impart the same training to budding football players.

UK-based Elite Football Academy has also indicated that it has plans to set up a football academy in Punjab.

“If we have a permanent place for training, we will get more kids to avail training. Indian football team should be there in the World Cup every time it comes around. The kind of talent India has, surely you should have the best team in the world,” said Tommy Taylor, coach of Ham football club.

Though football had never been a popular sport in Punjab, but in recent times with the emergence of football clubs, the sport has gained popularity both in rural and urban areas.

Organizations like JCT Football Club, Chandigarh Football Club and Sant Baba Hazara Singh Football Academy have contributed in attracting youngsters to play football.

And, the help given by foreign coaches is expected that it would enable help lift the standards of football in the country and will enable their Indian counterparts to hone the skills of budding football players. (ANI)