Liverpool to team up with SCB in football talent search

Liverpool FC former captain, Phill Thompson, with children attached to Brihanmumbai Muncipal Corporation schools at the launch of Standard Charterd bank's 'Go Forward' initiation towards nurturing football talent of children on September 14, 2011. Photo: Vivek Bendre

English Premier League clubs' interest in the Indian market is reflected in Liverpool Football Club (LFC) launch of an initiative, named ‘Go Forward’ in association with main club sponsor, Standard Chartered Bank (SCB). The pilot project will start in Mumbai, featuring about 2000 students attached to 80 schools run by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and spread to other cities.

Former Liverpool FC captain and defender, Phil Thompson, under whom the EPL club won the European Cup 1981 defeating Real Madrid, was present for the launch.

Thompson, who retired in 1985 from competitive football and moved to the coaching staff as assistant to Gerard Houllier, informed that coaches from LFC will be involved in talent scouting and coaching once

the 2000 students are reduced to the final list of 32. He also expressed the feasibility of best four footballers going to Liverpool for further training. Sreeram Iyer, Regional COO for India and South Asia, SCB, revealed that a tournament named the Standard Chartered Cup, featuring talented young boys and girls from BMC schools, will be conducted.

In response to queries, Mr Iyer informed that Indian coaches will be involved in talent spotting and after the final list of 32 youngsters is drawn up, even bigger clubs will have an opportunity of having a look at the BMC school footballers. “It is the first time for us and we don’t know how it will turn out. We are giving it all we can. This is our pilot project and we will look at spreading it to other cities depending upon how the Mumbai initiative turns out,” he said.

Thompson said that LFC’s decision to associate with SCB for the ‘Go Forward’ initiative was a continuation of the EPL club’s philosophy to reach out to the community. “We are passionate about the community. We at Liverpool realize the need to give the community’s children the chance to enjoy football. That is one way of making sure the young remain attached to football and don’t take up other sports,” said the 1981 European Cup winning captain. Alan Kennedy netted the match-winner in LFC’s triumph over Real Madrid at Parc des Princes, Paris.