Indian footballers to train in EPL academies

Mumbai: Twenty two young Indian footballers in the under-12 and under-14 age group will train and compete at various prestigious English Premier League club academies in Britain.

The group has trained at Navi Mumbai for the past one year under the Reliance Foundation's Young Champs (RFYC) residential scholarship programme. It will embark on a 12-day journey, accompanied by head coach Mark Vaessen and assistant coach Jose Barreto.

The EPL is a strategic partner to the Indian Super League (ISL) and the visit is part of their mutual cooperation agreement.

The training would begin at the Chelsea FC academy in Cobham, followed by friendly matches over the following two days against the Crystal Palace, Southampton and Reading academies.

The group will also get an opportunity to watch the last game of the English Premier League season at St. Mary’s Stadium between Southampton and Crystal Palace on May 15.

The last leg of the tour will see the RFYC play against Aston Villa, Reading and Liverpool at the Liverpool Academy.