The Reliance Foundation Young Champs Selection Camp got underway today with the chosen 200 children getting a feel of their accommodation home at the Beverly Park complex in Navi Mumbai. The children who arrived yesterday spent the day getting acclimatised to their new surroundings and friends from all across the country. Piet Hubers, Technical Director of Indian Super League’s Grassroots programme, conducted a short induction session in the afternoon aimed at motivating the children and providing them an overview of the training schedule for the week ahead. At 6:00 PM, the children were taken to the Father Agnel Ground in Vashi where they participated in their first training session of the camp. The session was overseen by Piet Hubers and Marcus Vaessen, Head Coach of the Reliance Foundation Young Champs programme alongside the ISL Clubs’ grassroots coaches. The session was held on two football pitches that were divided into several mini pitches each. The participants were paired according to their age group (born in 2002, 2003 or 2004) as they played short games against each other. The session continued into the night till 8:00 PM, thus bringing an end to the first day of the week-long camp. Vaessen indicated the qualities they were looking for as they preside over the week-long selection process. “The children must be comfortable on the ball; that is paramount along with their technique and activeness on the pitch. Another defining factor is their love for the sport itself,” he revealed. Click here to view photos.
