QPR coaches pick three Mumbai kids for football clinic in London

Sitaram Rathod, Sunil Rathod and Sunil Rathod were selected by QPR

Mumbai, Jan 29 Three Mumbai boys aged between 12-14 have been selected to travel to England for a football coaching clinic that will be conducted by Premier League club Queens Park Rangers (QPR) in London in April.

This is the sixth consecutive year that QPR is taking kids from here to train under their coaches at their facility in London. This time the London Club has decided to take 13-year-old Sitaram Rathod (Holy Name High School, Colaba) and two kids aged 12 and 14 but with the same name - Sunil Rathod (Colaba Municipal Secondary School).

The three were picked from a total of 45 shortlisted candidates who participated in a three-day selection trial conducted by QPR officials.

QPR Head of Player Development and Academy Manager Chris Ramsey assisted QPR coach Alexander Carroll to watch, monitor and share their expertise with the 45 shortlisted candidates, teaching them basic football skills during the trials.

"It's always difficult to pick up the right players because only a few from the entire group can be chosen. The difference between the rest and these three players selected was not only their technical ability to be chosen but also their character and endurance that was endearing," Ramsey said.

"They asked a lot of questions and after getting the answers they would try to execute what was told to them. Their characters helped them a lot."

Look forward to welcoming these boys to @QPRFC. This year's @milinddeora Mumbai Soccer Challenge winners #QPR pic.twitter.com/2muN0nkcgc

— Andy Watkins (@andywa7kins) January 27, 2015