By Debayan Mukherjee
Kolkata, March 2 (SocialNews.XYZ) The indelible impression that the next generation of Indian footballers left on Premier League clubs could see the PL-ISL Next Generation Mumbai Cup being played in the same age category from next year.
Three Premier League under-14 sides -- Chelsea FC, Manchester United FC and Southampton FC took on under-15 Indian youth sides of Reliance Foundation Young Champs (RFYC) academy, Bengaluru FC and FC Goa in the five-day meet between February 24 and 28 at the Reliance Corporate Park in Navi Mumbai.
While Chelsea's youth team won the title and Manchester United finished second in the six-team league, the RFYC boys cemented the third place with a memorable 1-0 win over Manchester United on the final day. The RFYC team also drubbed Southampton 3-0 in another stellar performance during the tournament.
"They are a little surprised. They thought maybe the level was not that high. They got good competition. I had the response from Premier League people who are around that maybe next year we can do it in the same age. That is a compliment for Indian football," Mark Vaessen, head of youth development at RFYC, told IANS on the sidelines of PL-ISL Next Generation Mumbai Cup in Navi Mumbai.
"We almost matched their levels. The result means nothing at this level."
The first batch of eight U-17 boys from the Reliance Foundation Young Champs academy will graduate this season after spending five years since its inception.
"We have a batch of eight who graduate in our academy. There is one player who is in playing in Spain. He got a chance on quality. We hope he is not coming back and gets the chance to sign a contract in Spain. But if he is coming back, that is a player who is interesting for ISL (Indian Super League) clubs.
"There are some contacts about other players in our academy. There are 2-3 players in our academy who can make it to ISL clubs," said Vaessen.
The Reliance Foundation Young Champs programme was launched in 2015 with the aim of providing a platform to top football talent in the country between 12 to 17 years of age. The players are scouted through the ISL grassroots initiatives. At present there are 79 players under its roof with the programme being full scholarship based, full-time residential football and education program run at Beverly Park in Navi Mumbai.
"A good academy wants to develop players every year. We have a computer system where people become smarter players. For sure, I know as an academy we will work in the same philosophy and own speed. Development is key and not winning prizes," said Vaessen on the goals of the academy.
"Talent is the parameter to select the kids. We believe in technical and mentally strong players," he added.
The country's premier football academy, meanwhile, has not taken headers completely out of training for U-12s, but has affirmed that softer balls are used and it is not done too much.
Children under the age of 12 have been banned from heading footballs during training in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland following research that shows a possible link between football and the brain condition, dementia.
Players will be allowed to use their heads during matches, but headers will be banned in practice or training sessions.
"I am not going to put headers out of my training. There are other ways. I can also do a header with a plastic ball or a light ball. Then it's not damaging and they still learn the technique of heading and they are not scared of the ball," he said.
"I don't do too much heading in my academy with the kids. But to take it really outside (of training), you don't learn something at 16 when it's allowed (to head in training) and then gets injured while doing it (as you don't know the technique). We take care of it that they don't head heavy balls. Headers will stay part of the game," said the Dutchman has been coaching for 20 years and has a UEFA 'A' License.
The RFYC has players in age categories starting U-12, U-13, U-14, U-15 and U-17.
Source: IANS
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