Arsenal Mania

Arsenal to train India's talented

Written by Jonathan Chong on Saturday, July 26, 2008

BBC Sport has reported that Arsenal will help train 16 of India's most talented schoolboys in a partnership with Tata Tea, who are the owners of Tetley Tea.

The boys, aged between 10 and 15, were selected after a two-week coaching programme held recently in Calcutta by Arsenal staff.

The boys are flying out to begin their training at the club's stadium, The Emirates, from next month.

English clubs are increasingly targeting Indian youngsters for the next generation of professional footballers.

The Gunners say it is an opportunity to propagate the game in India, a country where the beautiful game has often been neglected in favour of cricket.

However India's national coach, Englishman Bob Houghton, has often said that European clubs are more interested in promoting their commercial interests than helping the game in India.

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User Comments

17

sagun

Posted on 30 Jul, 2008 at 04:03 PM - Reply

why those indians ?
why not nepal?

16

hansa balla

Posted on 28 Jul, 2008 at 05:59 PM - Reply

dis iz gud!

15

Mani

Posted on 28 Jul, 2008 at 11:06 AM - Reply

Thats what arsenal!!!!!

14

Aria

Posted on 27 Jul, 2008 at 07:42 PM - Reply

this is why i love this club! i hope we keep it up. India has a massive population and who knows maybe loads of talent, its just they display it more on cricket imo..

13

Abhishek Nath

Posted on 27 Jul, 2008 at 08:31 AM - Reply

my favourite club.....thanx to all of the people who have agreed to take this step....
i wish in the near future i will be able to see some of them playing ans gooners...and as a proud indian and calcuttan..i am happy that no other club has done this other than the gooners....
thanx again

12

Sunny310c

Posted on 27 Jul, 2008 at 07:57 AM - Reply

This a fine initiative by Arsenal and I hope the kids realize what a great opportunity they have to not only make a career for themselves, but to make a name for the country. Would love it if one of those kids can go on to play for Arsenal some day. As an Indian and an Arsenal fan, nothing would give me more pleasure than to see an Indian put on the Red & White.

11

SameepFromIndia

Posted on 27 Jul, 2008 at 06:12 AM - Reply

The purpose of this tour is not only the TV and exposure of arsenal in india ,i believe.it has to do something with real footballing matters also.as you can see the results shown by indian under 16 national team recently in the AFC cup qualifiers (where they faced good teams like iran , saudi) and qualified for this years AFC cup going unbeaten throughout the tour.they are now in the top 16 teams in u 16 level in india.
also if you look at their ameriacan tour which concluded on 24th july,their results will just amaze you.
these are the results.
US Tour | July 1 to 25, 2008 in Charleston, West Virginia, USA
Jul. 6 India U16 6-1 Metro FC (Ohio)
Jul. 7 India U16 11-0 NCAA Blast FC (Ohio)
Jul. 12 India U16 5-1 Marshall University Elite Camp All-Stars
Jul. 13 India U16 6-0 Tri-State All-Stars
Jul. 18 India U16 10-0 West Virginia Olympic Development Team
Jul. 19 India U16 6-0 West Virginia Olympic Development Team
Jul. 24 India U16 2-2 Reading Rage Super Y League Team

a striker named Malasawmfela scored some 15-16 goals in that tour.
so its very arsenal way to turn attention to such performances.

10

daniel

Posted on 27 Jul, 2008 at 05:36 AM - Reply

if those indian guies are going to be great lets them join us. but my main concern is for manager Winger he should have separate player playing the champions league, premiership and some league in England. more power to your elbow winger

9

Shantan

Posted on 27 Jul, 2008 at 03:54 AM - Reply

It's great to see but do you really believe this is anything more than a publicity stunt. It would be great to see a few of the lads make it and I will be rooting for them.

8

Dave

Posted on 26 Jul, 2008 at 10:48 PM - Reply

And thats why I am proud to be a gooner.

7

Yusuf

Posted on 26 Jul, 2008 at 10:29 PM - Reply

Let's not all pretend that this is a noble gesture by Arsenal. India's economy is rising rapidly and their population is huge. The more people hooked on football and the Premier League, the more revenues they get for TV rights and merchandise sales. Smart move, if you ask me.

6

raj

Posted on 26 Jul, 2008 at 10:18 PM - Reply

great i dont care much about developement of footbal in india but ya feel great that arsenal fan folowing would increase thats what realy matters

5

goodheart

Posted on 26 Jul, 2008 at 09:05 PM - Reply

does anyone know much about the new boy ramesey?

4

killerracer

Posted on 26 Jul, 2008 at 05:52 PM - Reply

I'm really glad to hear that my favourite football club has taken a keen interest in promoting football in India as I believe India has the potential to become one of the major footballing force but the problem we face is inadequate coaching techniques in India and some mentality of the parents.I believe that Arsenal has taken a huge step and many Indians will be very grateful to Arsenal and they will be remembered in future for their services if India starts competing at the international level.Hail Arsenal from all the fans of India.

3

Sushovan Sircar

Posted on 26 Jul, 2008 at 05:01 PM - Reply

It is indeed extremely heartening to watch Arsenal take such a noble initiative.I myself am from Calcutta, the city where Arsenal have set up a camp. Calcutta loves its football more than anything and there is absolutely no dearth of talent here. All India needs is proper channeling and grooming of raw talent.