Celtic Soccer Academy To Conduct Trials In Delhi To Unearth Footballing Talent In NCR

Madhya Bharat aims to develop young football players through world-class coaching and academic facilities at the Madhya Bharat Sports Club in Bhopal, India...

Celtic Soccer Academy, in association with its international partner in India, Madhya Bharat Sports Club, today announced a nationwide trial tour to identify the best footballing talent of the country.  The trials, which are being held at 9 different cities across the country, will take place in Delhi on Sunday, 7th May at the Thyagaraj Stadium in the capital.

Through the trials, the Academy aims to build three squads comprising of Under-13, Under-15 and Under-18 boys, who would be taken on a full residential programme with equal emphasis on footballing as well as academic excellence. The Academy is looking to identify 72 young footballers for the three squads in the first year, and the best three among these will also be sent to Celtic F.C. in Glasgow, Scotland for a one month player exchange programme.

Madhya Bharat Sports Club has signed a six year deal with Celtic Football Club that will see the Celtic Soccer Academy work with the club to implement a development model for Indian football in the city of Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. Following the tie-up, the Academy has appointed UEFA Pro Coach Jose Carlos Hevia as the Technical Director. Previously, Jose had a successful stint with Indian Super League team FC Pune City as the Technical Director and Head of Grassroots Development from 2014 to 2016. He has successfully worked for Minerva FC and developed players there as well, some of whom are now a part of India’s U-17 World Cup squad.

The Academy has also roped in former Nigerian world-cupper Rabiu Afolabi, who has also played with prestigious clubs like Napoli and Monaco, as Head Selector and Advisor. Rabiu would be present at the trials at all the 9 cities to oversee the selection process.

Madhya Bharat Sports Club is a new academy setup based football club in the city of Bhopal. The club aims to become a nursery and breeding ground for future world class players and  looks forward to be able to contribute to Indian football by developing players who go on to play for the national team and make the country proud. The club has a promising academy set-up which is focused on the development of young players through world-class coaching and academic programmes, offering a unique combination of sport and study across residential and day-boarding player development centres in the area.

Speaking about the initiative, Rishish Dubey, Madhya Bharat Sport Club’s Founder and CEO said, “We firmly believe that a sustained and focussed approach is required if we want to see Indian football compete at a global level. At Madhya Bharat Sports Club’s Celtic Soccer Academy, we are trying to bring in world-class coaching and infrastructure for the young footballers of the country.”

“We are very pleased to join hands with Celtic FC, one of the best clubs in the world. We visited their academy and were very impressed with Celtic FC’s youth program. The values of the club are a major reason we have partnered with them”, he added.

Celtic Soccer Academy has also committed to a substantial coach education programme to help develop the standard of coaching available to young Madhya Bharat Sports Club players.

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Jose Carlos Hevia, Technical Director of Celtic Soccer Academy – Madhya Bharat Sports Club said, “Having spent a fair bit of time with young Indian footballers at FC Pune City and Minerva Punjab FC, I firmly believe that there is a lot of potential here. I am sure that we will be able to spot some good talent at these trials, and given the right exposure and grooming, they can be developed into footballers who go on and represent India at higher levels.”

Register Online here - Delhi NCR Trials Registration.