Kashmir’s first residential soccer academy to come up in Baramulla Srinagar: In a first major step to promote football, the state is all set to have its first residential football academy. The football academy will come up in north Kashmir’s Baramulla town, 55 km from Srinagar, and is expected to complete in the next two years. The academy will be set up at a cost of Rs 10 crore by the Jammu and Kashmir State Power Development Corporation (JKSPDC) under its corporate social responsibility plan. The JKSPDC is the only state-owned power-generating company in the state. “The establishment of this formal and residential football academy will be a major step towards honing the skills of youth in the state. The academy will be operational in the next two years after which we will enrol kids and youth in different age groups,” said the general manager of the JKSPDC, Iftikhar Kakroo. “We will be hiring the best coaches and experts for the academy and the aim is to give a boost to the sport in J&K,” he added. The foundation stone of the academy will be laid on Wednesday by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who is also the chairman of the JKSPDC. Despite unrest in the Valley, football has remained popular in Kashmir. Two football players Mehraj-ud-Din Wadoo and Ishfaq Ahmad have played for India. There are also three players from J&K who are at present playing for various prominent football clubs of the country. “The upcoming residential academy is the best thing to happen for football in J&K,” said the president of the J&K Football Association, Zameer Thakur. The JKSPDC official said the academy would not only help hone the skills of football players but also harness fresh talent. Spread over 70 kanals, the academy would offer facilities that would meet international standards. At present, there are five football academies in J&K. Out of them, four are run by the J&K Football Association.
Posted on: Wed, 04 Sep 2013 15:18:39 +0000
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