Steven Dias to head newly launched KSA-Ambitious Football Academy in mumbai

by Chittu Shetty November 15, 2017

Former Indian midfielder Steven Dias along with former Maharashtra captains Vijith Shetty & Santosh Koli have launched a new academy – KSA-Ambitious Football Academy in collaboration with Karnataka Sporting Association

Former India player Steven Dias (left) alongside KSA President P V Shetty (Centre) and KSA Joint Hon. Secretary, KSA (right) during the press meet for the launch of new football academy in Mumbai

Following the recently concluded FIFA U17 World Cup, hosted by India, the craze for Football in the country has increased tremendously and they are now taking up the sport, developing a sense for Football and believing in the game as a big future.

The momentum that has been gained by Indian Football with the World Cup and the gradual improvement of the Indian team provided the boost to set up the KSA-Ambitious Football Academy in belief that the time is right to involve young kids wanting to pick up football and educate them about the game.

Dr. P.V. Shetty, President, Karnataka Sporting Association said: “We at KSA are a sports loving body. It’s always been our endeavour to provide our children of the city the opportunity to engage in sports, in particular cricket and football. KSA has organised many football tournaments in which leading Indian and State level players have participated. The KSA is also conducting tournament for women and veteran men.”

“We have in the past also organised many coaching programs and clinics for young children. Now with Indian football on the rise, we felt that it’s the correct time that we should do something from our side to help the sport grow further. That’s one of the key reasons to set up the KSA-Ambitious FA. The Academy which will have Steven Dias as the head coach and assisted by Vijith Shetty and Santosh Koli, both players of repute, I am confident the Academy will produce stars of the future,” Dr. Shetty mentioned.

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A free workshop has been arranged for all the kids and parents where they will be highlighted about what they can expect from the academy. Trainees will also be given basic training and educations about the basics of the game. The workshop will be held on December 2 and 3.

Speaking about his new venture Steven said, “We want to educate youngsters with the right knowledge about the sport. There’s plenty of talent in Mumbai, who do not get the right guidance at the right time to take their game forward and Ambitious FA will give them that opportunity. A lot of children miss out on academy training due to lack of finances but, at Ambitious FA, If we find a kid has the potential and talent to make it big in Football, we will not let that go waste, we will offer scholarships to those kids.”

The Ambitious FA will also focus on developing individual techniques at a very young age. “When we were young we were never taught these techniques and had to gradually develop it on our own. This is the main difference between us and the European countries. Teaching the proper techniques at young age is very important and we will try to give that to these youngsters.” stated the former India International.

Vijith Shetty, who led Maharashtra in the Santosh Trophy believes it’s not just about developing sports, “A player has to have a certain discipline in his game. While football helps in developing physically, we will also try and inculcate proper attitudes and values that every sportspersons should have.”

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About Ambitious Football Academy:

Ambitious FA wants to be an Academy where every minutes of the game have a microscopic assessment. We want to contribute to the Indian Football. Our ambition is to produce new era players who can represent our Country at International Arena. Starting from planning, fitness, training, exposure to level of match practice, everything will be created accordingly to International standard.

Vision:

• To be Number one Football Academy in Mumbai and In the country.

Mission:

• To program the best suitable, competitive football coaching to the Academy players.
• Provide opportunity for people of all ages to enjoy a lifetime involvement with Football.

Goals:

• To provide outstanding coaching and development programs to enable our junior players to improve and develop their skills so that they may have the opportunity to participate at the highest standard of competition available to them.

ABOUT KSA:

• Established in 1929, KSA was formed by group of young Kannada people of all caste and creed, living in Mumbai to play football and Cricket. Late Adv. Rashid Kudroli and Mr. Pande got together to gather youngsters and KSA came into existence.
• Olympian Sanjeeva Uchil, Godfrey Pereira, Steven Dias, Vijith Shetty, Shekhar Bangera are some of the prominent footballers who have featured for KSA teams, while in cricket Ravi Shastri, Sharad Rao, Balwinder Sandhu and few others have represented KSA.
• KSA has a football team playing in MDFA Elite Division and a Cricket team in ‘A’ Division
• KSA now aims to build better facilities for Sportspersons.
• KSA conducts many football tournaments – Adv Kudrolli Memorial Knockout Tournament, Dr. Payyade Memorial Football Tournament, Women’s Football Tournament and the most popular Veteran’s Football Tournament.
• In the past KSA has conducted many coaching camps and clinics for children of Mumbai and also for under-privileged kids.

Workshop Detail:

Age Group: U8, U12, U15 & U18

Date & Time : December 2, 3, 9.00 am onwards

Venue: KSA Ground, Cross Maidan, Churchgate End.

Free Entry for all

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