QPR coaches to visit Mumbai to select youngsters for an exclusive QPR coaching clinic

5th South Mumbai Junior Soccer Challenger - QPR trip winners

As part of the Milind Deora-QPR South Mumbai Junior Soccer Challenger 2014, 45 young footballers were shortlisted for the QPR Selection Camp to be conducted in Mumbai between January 24-26, 2015.

Two reputed coaches from top English club Queens Park Rangers, will be visiting Mumbai to select two kids for a coaching clinic that will be conducted exclusively by the Queens Park Rangers coaching teams in London in April 2015.

Chris Ramsey, QPR Head of Player Development and Academy Manager and Alexander Carroll, will closely watch and monitor the 45 shortlisted children (37 boys & 8 girls) during a three-day selection trials at the Western Railway ground, Lower Parel.

Football a growing passion among India’s youth: Deora

The 45 youngsters were selected based on their performances during the 6th edition of the QPR-South Mumbai Junior Soccer Challenger 2014 in association with QPR, an initiative of Milind Deora and which was managed and conducted by Saran Sports last November.

Speaking about his initiative, Milind Deora (Ex-Member of Parliament & Ex-Union Minister) said, "Football is a growing passion amongst today's youth. It would be a great opportunity for the two young footballers who will be selected for the QPR training clinic in UK and also for the others as they would gain some useful knowledge from the two QPR coaches. By organising such championships I hope to provide a platform for the youth to exhibit their football skills. I hope to provide football enthusiasts with the necessary infrastructure and help the coaches identify talent. I am sure that with a cohesive effort, we will be able to popularize and develop the sport in India."

The sixth edition of the QPR-South Mumbai Junior Soccer Challenger, witnessed around 6,000 children from over 134 schools (municipal & government aided schools) representing 700 teams, featured in over 900 matches. Competition was conducted for boys' and girls' teams in the under-10, U-12, U-14 and U-16 categories.

Last year Aman Gaikwad and Kamran Ansari had travelled to London for the QPR Coaching Clinic and benefited from the experience. Kamran is currently shortlisted among the 30 probables for selection to the Indian Under-16 team.

The QPR coaches will be assisted by four local coaches who have been trained under the QPR coaching instructors. The selection trials on January 24 and 25 will be conducted in two sessions, morning from 10.30 to 12.30 and in the afternoon from 13.30 to 15.30.