Post by QPR Report on Feb 16, 2010 16:08:25 GMT
QPR In The Community Trust
CHALLENGE SUCCESS FOR R’S IN MUMBAI
QPR’s trip to host the Mumbai Soccer Challenge over the New Year proved a resounding success, as promising youngsters Shaun Fernandes and Hussain Vahanvaty did enough to earn the right to attend a six-week training camp at the Club’s Harlington Training Ground.
The sheer scale of the event was best demonstrated by the fact that in attendance was Minister of State for Civil Aviation Praful Patel, MP Milind Deora, Indian National Team Captain Baichung Bhutia, as well as QPR Vice Chairman Amit Bhatia and Managing Director Ishan Saksena.
Under the watchful eye of QPR Youth Development Manager Steve Gallen, the Challenge was a unique five-a-side tournament involving municipal government aided and private schools and took place in South Mumbai.
An incredible 2,000 children all participated in the event. Open to boys and girls, the challengers were aged from eight to ten and 11 to 14 years old. A total of 24 children were hand-picked to take part in a follow-up QPR coaching clinic, where the final two were selected to make the trip to West London.
QPR Holdings Ltd Vice-Chairman Bhatia was delighted with how the event turned out. He explained how finding and promoting talent in Mumbai was always likely to happen at some point as a result of the Club’s connection to India through himself and QPR shareholder Lakshmi Mittal.
“With the Club having an Indian association, an initiative was always going to be on the cards,” he said, “but it was about what we thought would be right. We have a QPR Football in the Community Trust and this fits there.”
“There is a difference between introducing and exploiting. Clubs need to be willing to spend resources rather than earning them.
“That’s what we are looking at doing. We are planning long term. We want to give back and are showing our intentions from day one.
“We have been constantly keeping our eye on a few talented footballers from there. There were Visa issues but that hasn’t stopped us from keeping track. I don’t see why (having an Indian footballer at Rangers) is not a possibility.”
Bhatia also explained that such events are not all about marketing the Club. Indeed, he believes backing grass roots football is of greater importance.
“We don’t want to come here and sell jerseys and tickets,” he added. “We wanted to do something from the grass roots level. Promoting talent in Mumbai is up there on our agenda.”
This view is shared by QPR Managing Director Saksena, who added: “Anything is possible. We have many age group teams and if they do exceptionally well, anything can happen.
“Even if they fail to make progress, we will keep track of these kids in India and provide them with the facilities that they require. QPR will keep coming to India every year for such events.”
South Mumbai MP Deora welcomed a growing relationship between India and QPR, and he says that the rising popularity of the beautiful game in and around the country suggests that such a partnership can only be a successful one.
MP Deora said: “Football is a rapidly growing sport with youngsters taking to it in large numbers.
“Besides bringing out qualities of teamwork and the spirit of fair play, the sport also provides an ideal platform for children to engage in both health and fitness activities.”
Fernandes and Vahanvaty will now travel to West London this upcoming summer and Gallen explained that if either of the two boys impresses, then their respective stays could last beyond the six weeks.
Gallen said: “If they are good enough they might even get the chance to represent the club in the future.”
www.qprcommunitytrust.co.uk/
CHALLENGE SUCCESS FOR R’S IN MUMBAI
QPR’s trip to host the Mumbai Soccer Challenge over the New Year proved a resounding success, as promising youngsters Shaun Fernandes and Hussain Vahanvaty did enough to earn the right to attend a six-week training camp at the Club’s Harlington Training Ground.
The sheer scale of the event was best demonstrated by the fact that in attendance was Minister of State for Civil Aviation Praful Patel, MP Milind Deora, Indian National Team Captain Baichung Bhutia, as well as QPR Vice Chairman Amit Bhatia and Managing Director Ishan Saksena.
Under the watchful eye of QPR Youth Development Manager Steve Gallen, the Challenge was a unique five-a-side tournament involving municipal government aided and private schools and took place in South Mumbai.
An incredible 2,000 children all participated in the event. Open to boys and girls, the challengers were aged from eight to ten and 11 to 14 years old. A total of 24 children were hand-picked to take part in a follow-up QPR coaching clinic, where the final two were selected to make the trip to West London.
QPR Holdings Ltd Vice-Chairman Bhatia was delighted with how the event turned out. He explained how finding and promoting talent in Mumbai was always likely to happen at some point as a result of the Club’s connection to India through himself and QPR shareholder Lakshmi Mittal.
“With the Club having an Indian association, an initiative was always going to be on the cards,” he said, “but it was about what we thought would be right. We have a QPR Football in the Community Trust and this fits there.”
“There is a difference between introducing and exploiting. Clubs need to be willing to spend resources rather than earning them.
“That’s what we are looking at doing. We are planning long term. We want to give back and are showing our intentions from day one.
“We have been constantly keeping our eye on a few talented footballers from there. There were Visa issues but that hasn’t stopped us from keeping track. I don’t see why (having an Indian footballer at Rangers) is not a possibility.”
Bhatia also explained that such events are not all about marketing the Club. Indeed, he believes backing grass roots football is of greater importance.
“We don’t want to come here and sell jerseys and tickets,” he added. “We wanted to do something from the grass roots level. Promoting talent in Mumbai is up there on our agenda.”
This view is shared by QPR Managing Director Saksena, who added: “Anything is possible. We have many age group teams and if they do exceptionally well, anything can happen.
“Even if they fail to make progress, we will keep track of these kids in India and provide them with the facilities that they require. QPR will keep coming to India every year for such events.”
South Mumbai MP Deora welcomed a growing relationship between India and QPR, and he says that the rising popularity of the beautiful game in and around the country suggests that such a partnership can only be a successful one.
MP Deora said: “Football is a rapidly growing sport with youngsters taking to it in large numbers.
“Besides bringing out qualities of teamwork and the spirit of fair play, the sport also provides an ideal platform for children to engage in both health and fitness activities.”
Fernandes and Vahanvaty will now travel to West London this upcoming summer and Gallen explained that if either of the two boys impresses, then their respective stays could last beyond the six weeks.
Gallen said: “If they are good enough they might even get the chance to represent the club in the future.”
www.qprcommunitytrust.co.uk/