New Delhi: In a historic move for Indian football, Bhaichung Bhutia Football Schools has partnered with English Premier League club Southampton FC.
As part of the agreement signed between the two in the presence of media and other dignitaries here at a city hotel, BBFS will be the International Academy Partner (IAP) of The Saints, which will enable them to get priority access to the renowned SFC Academy Performance Plan, including coaching philosophy, tactics, strategy and curricula from the U6-U16 levels, besides exclusive access to the other online coaching resources.
The agreement also envisions building player experiences through programs like staff visits, customised camps, and tournaments in England as well as in India.
The announcement event was attended by Bhaichung Bhutia, Southampton legend Matt Le Tissier, Director of Southampton Football Academy, Andy Martino, Football Development Manager Programs of Southampton FC, Tom Grevatt and Co-Founder & CEO of Bhaichung Bhutia Football Schools, Kishore Taid.
“At BBFS, we have always targeted the grassroots and have been quite successful in doing so and this partnership will help us keep up with that target. Southampton is a football club which has all the key ingredients- history, tradition, passion, pride, fighting spirit, style of play, rivalry and success,” Bhaichung Bhutia said about the partnership.
“With our reach and pathways now secure, the partnership with Southampton will ensure that we plug the gaps existing better, deliver better players for the national team, and also realise some of our own ambitions,” he added further.
Emphasis on the education of coaches at the grassroots will be a key focus of the partnership to create a steady pipeline of world-class coaches in the country.
Currently, BBFS trains over 2000 coaches annually free of cost. The Saints will work closely with BBFS to implement their comprehensive coaching curriculum which will be tailored to the needs of Indian coaches, combining European football techniques with local dynamics.