Guwahati: Bhaichung Bhutia Football Schools (BBFS), India’s largest football academy, have announced a landmark strategic partnership aimed at developing the grassroots coaching system with one of English Premier League’s (EPL) oldest sides Southampton Football Club (SFC).
As part of the agreement signed between the two, BBFS will be the international academy partner 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 to U16 levels, besides exclusive access to the other online coaching resources.
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The agreement also envisions building player experiences through programmes like staff visits, customised camps and tournaments in England as well as in India.
The Saints academy is well known for producing world class footballing talents over decades. Some popular names to have come out of the Southampton Academy include the likes of Gareth Bale, Theo Walcott, Alan Shearer, James Ward-Prowse, Luke Shaw, Adam Lallana, Matthew Le Tissier and Alex Oxlade Chamberlain, among others.
The announcement event was attended by Bhaichung Bhutia, Southampton legend Matt Le Tissier, Director of Southampton Football Academy Andy Martino, football development manager programmes of SFC Tom Grevatt, and co-founder and CEO of BBFS Kishore Taid.
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SFC’s coaching philosophy and best practices in youth development can now be integrated into the training programmes at BBFS, ensuring that aspiring Indian footballers and coaches are equipped with the skills and the mindset necessary to succeed in the world’s most popular sport.
EMPHASIS ON COACHES EDUCATION:
Emphasis on education of coaches at the grassroots will be a key focus of the partnership with the objective of creating a steady pipeline of world-class coaches in the country.
Currently BBFS trains over 2,000 coaches annually free of cost. The Saints will work closely with BBFS to implement their comprehensive coaching curriculum which will tailor to the needs of the Indian coaches, combining European football techniques with local dynamics.
Southampton’s extensive digital resource library which includes session plans for outfield players and goalkeepers, including the exclusive online coaching course supported by webinars, workshops and remote learning will add further muscle to the coaches’ development programme.
Online properties like the Boot Room for online discussions and Grow Your Game Hub with regular coaching content will also now be available to BBFS.
Additionally, the Saints will commit to promoting the partnership across digital platforms and BBFS can make use of the clubs IP rights during the partnership.
The partnership will also include appearances by the Saint’s first-team players and ambassadors for promotional content and there will be further collaboration on retail, bespoke merchandise and coach education.
WORDS FROM THE FOOTBALLING MAESTROS:
BHAICHUNG BHUTIA
“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 said.
“With our reach and pathways now secure, the partnership with Southampton will ensure that we plug the gaps existing better and deliver better players for the national team and also realise some of our own ambitions,” he added.
“This partnership is a significant step towards raising the standard of football coaching and player development in India. We are committed to nurturing the next generation of Indian footballers and this collaboration brings us closer to our vision of producing global football stars,” Bhaichung further said.
MATT LE TISSIER
“Nobody develops footballing talent better than the Saints. I have been there all my life and I can tell you that they have the most committed academy coaches and support staff which have produced some of the best players in England. Southampton academy kids are made not only for football, but to face any life challenges,” Matt said.
“Grassroots tournaments like the Southampton Cup will also be a life changing experience for the kids here. This partnership is an exciting development for Indian football. At Southampton, we have always prided ourselves on nurturing young talent and helping them to reach their full potential,” he added.
Matt further said, “Bringing this philosophy to India, a country with such passion and untapped potential is a fantastic opportunity. I believe this collaboration will pave the way for many young Indian footballers to achieve their dreams and make a mark on the global stage.”
ANDY MARTINO
“We believe India is now ready. We want to spread the Southampton way, where it’s most needed. The only way to do that is to strengthen the coaching ecosystem at the grassroots because that is where players are made or broken. We can see that the next phase of growth will involve building players with better technique, control, stamina, strength and decision making,” Andy said.
“These are things which can only happen at grassroots level. There is no doubt that with the advent of the Indian Super League, with so many renowned foreign coaches and players coming in, awareness on modern methods of playing football are no longer alien to Indian players and coaches,” Andy added.
“There is a building, growing and developing league structure now. We are excited to bring our expertise and experience to one of the most vibrant football markets in the world. India has immense potential in football and through this partnership, we aim to provide the young players with opportunities and training necessary to achieve their dreams of playing at the highest levels,” he said.
TOM GREVATT
“Youth development is at the core of what we do at SFC and we are excited to bring this expertise to BBFS. Our collaboration will focus not only on enhancing the technical abilities of young players but also on advancing the skills of coaches,” Tom said.
“We will also ensure they can deliver high-quality training aligned with global standards. By working closely with BBFS, we aim to create a lasting impact on Indian football development and unlock the immense potential of young talent across the country,” he added.
KISHORE TAID
“Right from its inception, BBFS has been redefining the standards of football education in India. Through this partnership with SFC, we wish to further enhance the technical knowledge of our ecosystem and build a bridge for young footballers and coaches from India to the world,” Kishore said.