Guwahati FC to set up football academy

By our Sports Reporter

GUWAHATI, March 13: Guwahati Football FC, the first professiol soccer club of the city, today announced to launch its own soccer academy in Guwahati. The club had already tied up with Clube Atletico Paraense of Brazil and Delhi based Anglian Magement Group to take forward the activities of the academy.

Disclosing the news to a media conference Sanjive rayan, the co owner of Guwahati FC today said that prelimiry work of the academy like selection of players and other will start in May while the academy is expected to open later part of this year." Most of the ground work including the identification of facilities like full sized pitches, practice areas, class rooms, changing rooms etc has already been filized. Academy will start functioning soon," said rayan.

Clube Atletico Paraense is not a new me in Indian football. The AIFF already entrusted the responsibility to this club to prepare their U-17 teams for the forthcoming U-17 World Cup which will be hosted by India. The club is situated in Curitiba, Brazil and have all modern facilities that included several grounds, gym, modern accommodation for players etc. In last World Cup, Spain team used their infrastructure during their stay in Brazil.

The media briefing was also attended by Luiz Greco, Director, Clube Atletico Paraense, Kushal Das, Secretary, AIFF, Shaji Prabhakaran, Regiol Development officer for FIFA, Dhruv Ratra, CEO, Anglian Magement Group and Ankur Dutta, Secretary, Assam Football Association.

Luiz found very much impressed on the vision of Guwahati FC. Addressing the gathering the CEO of Clube Atletico Paraense said, " We had earlier worked with the Mohun Bagan Football Academy and there we found many talented players from the North East. I feel  the initiative taken by Guwahati FC to start a soccer academy will help a lot to the football of this region in the coming days."

As per the understanding between the two sides Clube Atletico Paraense will help Guwahati FC to select players for the academy and later coaches will be sent to train the players and local coaches. At the same time, Clube Atletico Paraense will also help Guwahati FC to set up their academy.

Kushal Das, the secretary of the AIFF, is also happy in Guwahai FC's decision to start an academy. "Assam filly got an academy. AIFF are trying to develop the football in the country and it would only be possible if different clubs of India come forward and start such soccer academy. Best wishes to Guwahati FC and hope in the coming days the club will be able to earn a place in the I league," said Das.

It may be mentioned here that Guwahati FC was launched in 2014. rayan added that the club will very soon launch its team and will start participating in the local competition before take big steps towards I League.