Kolkata youngsters Jayanta Mondal, Bishal Harizan and Bangalore's Mani Maran are back, sharper and confident, after spending 10 days with Celtic FC.
The three Indian lads trained with the Celtic u-15 squad and had multiple sessions of sports science testing and technique lessons. Maran was singled out for a match experience, as part of Celtic's under-19 squad against Melbourne's Monash FC.
The trio, the best players in the Mahindra Youth Football Challenge (MYFC) first edition, were present at the launch of the MYFC second edition. Spread across six States — West Bengal, Goa, Kerala, Delhi, Karnataka and Maharashtra — the under-14 inter-school event will feature top 32 schools from each centre playing a knockout tournament and the winning teams playing a round-robin league.
Coaching clinic
Mondal and Harizan train at Sports Authority of India, Kolkata while Maran is from a Government Sports School at Vidyanagar.
The three will join 25 others shortlisted for a coaching clinic at the conclusion of MYFC's second edition, said Mufaddal Choonia, DGM, Corporate Strategy, Mahindra & Mahindra.
Celtic FC coaches will be involved and youngsters shortlisted to attend the clinic will get kit and equipment.
The champion schools from six cities and coaches will benefit from a four-day coaching camp to be conducted by a panel of visiting coaches from CFC as part of the preparation for the inter-city challenge.
Sukantanagar Vidyaniketan Schook, Kolkata won the first edition while Govt. Sports School, Bangalore was the runner-up.
The MYFC is promoted and conducted by Procam International.
