The Hindu : Sport / Football : Mahindra tie-up with Arsenal, Liverpool

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Wednesday, Nov 01, 2006
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Mahindra tie-up with Arsenal, Liverpool

Special Correspondent

MUMBAI: Mahindra United, the reigning National Football League and Federation Cup champion, is exploring coaching tie-ups with English Premier League teams Arsenal and Liverpool for its youth squad, according to Alan Durante, President, Mahindra United.

"We have received proposals from these two major English clubs for setting up short coaching programmes of 15-20 days duration. The Mahindra United under-19 players will benefit from this venture," he told the media while announcing Mahindra United's Youth Development Programme in association with Tech Mahindra Limited, an IT company.

Training youngsters

Arsenal and Liverpool will send coaches to train talented youngsters in various regions of India, including Mumbai, the Mahindra United Manager, Henry Menezes, a former India goalkeeper, said. "Football trainers attached to the two Premier League clubs will come to India for short coaching programmes aimed at improving football skills in youth," he said.

"Arsenal and Liverpool see a huge market in India, particularly to youth exposed to the English Premier League on television. Sending coaches here to promote youth football is one way of increasing the popularity and acceptability in young football followers," Menezes said.

The Tech Mahindra-Mahindra United tie-up will see Olympian S.S. Narayan, former India coach Dereyk de Souza and former international Santosh Kashyap shortlist under-15 schoolboys playing in the Mumbai Schools Sports Association leagues and tournaments.

The 25 boys who are selected, will be put through a three-year training programme under Mahindra United coaches at the end of which, the outstanding players will be drafted into the Mahindra United under-19 squad, followed by the senior team playing in the NFL.

Mahindra United will pay these boys a monthly scholarship of Rs.500, travelling allowance and also supply football kit.

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