Barcelona FC to train school kids in Chandigarh

CHANDIGARH: Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta, Xabi Alonso, Xavi Hernandes - these footballers have become household names in the world after their superb performance over the years for FC Barcelona. But have you ever thought how did these names evolve over the years. Well, the answer is Barcelona's football academy 'FCBescola' which catches talented footballers at a young age and grooms them over a period of 10 years, imparting them training besides honing their soccer school.

Now, FCBescola, the Barcelona-based football training school, has decided to come to India and train youngsters so that they can tap precocious talent at a young age and place them under the same model that players like Messi, Iniesta and Xavi.

After conducting clinics all over India including national capital Delhi, the 'FCBescola' has decided to initiate a football camp in Chandigarh. The camp, which will be held between December 24-28, will be supervised by Antoni Claviera, Technical Director of FCBescola India. After the camp, players will be earmarked and then called for the larger trials, which will be held in Delhi for a period of 1 month in January 2013.

Speaking on the occasion, Antoni Claviera said, "The Barca methodology is a unique way of understanding the game of football. We focus on overall development of each kid and put emphasis on FB values - tolerance, respect, solidarity, friendship, community spirit and integration. These values are very important for us."

The camps are being organized in India by a body named Conscient Football who have roped in Barcelona as their partners. Announcing the camp in the city beautiful, Anu Jain, Director of Conscient Football said, "Over the past few years, we have closely followed the growth of football in Chandigarh. The city with so much of sporting energy and talent was our natural choice to hold the fabled FC Barcelona camps. We shall bring a host of opportunities for kids across India to learn football the Barca way. We are also scouting kids through our camps for the FCBescola academy, which is due to open in Delhi NCR by early next year."

The camps are being organized in India by a body named Conscient Football who have roped in Barcelona as their partners. Announcing the camp in the city beautiful, Anu Jain, Director of Conscient Football said, "Over the past few years, we have closely followed the growth of football in Chandigarh. The city with so much of sporting energy and talent was our natural choice to hold the fabled FC Barcelona camps. We shall bring a host of opportunities for kids across India to learn football the Barca way. We are also scouting kids through our camps for the FCBescola academy, which is due to open in Delhi NCR by early next year."