Although Football is not such a popular sports in India, especially in the northern region, an effort to hone the skills of player rural and economically weaker sections of the society was made in Dharamshala in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh, around 230 kms from here.

To nurture the skills of budding Football players, a training camp for Under 16 Football player from Kangra, Dharamshala and Shahpur was organised at the ground of Government College, Dharamshala by Arsenal Community, the Community football coaching department of Arsenal Football Club, UK on 1-2 April, 2017.

“Two Arsenal Community coaches, Luigi Cennamo and Loki Kapoor Parsons taught the young players fundamental techniques as passing, techniques, dribbling, turning to help the players improve their overall game,” Varun Rattan Singh, CEO of Development Logics Solutions Pvt Ltd told The Statesman.

“We are also planning to organise such training camps in coming years also,” he said.

Varun Rattan Singh said that the main aim of the training camp was to hone the skills of budding Football players and give them a chance to learn the tricks of the trade from the coaching of the famous Arsenal Football Club.

“We are also looking for young talent in Himachal Pradesh and provide them proper training so that they could get a chance to play in Football league matches at national and international level,” he said.

Varun Rattan Singh said they are planning to launch a Football Academy in HP. “But the main problem we are facing is a proper ground, which can be developed for training purpose,” he said.

He said they would soon meet the state government officials and request them to provide a ground which can be used for the purpose of training of young Football players.

The training camp was organised by Delhi based India Youth Soccer Association (IYSA) which trains boys from underprivileged and economically weaker backgrounds free of cost.

It is worthwhile to mention here that Arsenal Football Club which was started in the community of Arsenal, London in 1886, has won 13 English League titles and a record 12 FA Cups.  

Arsenal’s former Managing Director, Ken Friar, OBE, founded Arsenal in the Community in the early 1980s and the community had initiated a program train budding talent in countries such as Uganda, Ghana, Mozambique, Australia, Hong Kong, Bolivia, Philippines, South Africa, India etc.