‘Dream Chasers’ in association with Sunil Chhetri commits to nurture & promote young footballers
Press Release: In a far-reaching and significant development, the future prospects of young football talent in the country is set to receive a tremendous boost, thanks to Dream Chasers, a unique annual pan-India football talent hunt being launched by Proforce, with a commitment to nurture and promote the selected footballers for a period of five years.
Dream Chasers, mentored by Indian Football captain Sunil Chhetri as the Brand Ambassador, will be associated with Europe’s top club, Sporting Clube de Portugal (SCP), which will provide the coaching staff and will be responsible for providing the highest standards of international football coaching as well as technical support to 15 selected boys in the 8-14 years age group for a period of 5 years, this was announced at a Press Conference on Wednesday.
Speaking on the occasion, Chhetri, said, “The main reason of my association with DreamChasers is the commitment to support and nurture talented footballers for a period of 5 years. Young talent needs to be recognized and supported in their formative years and this is the difference between DreamChasers and other talent hunts being conducted.”
“I will closely monitor the progress of those selected and I am confident that the partnership with Sporting Clube de Portugal would provide the boys with the best coaching and technical skills required to have a real good shot at succeeding as a professional footballer. When I went to Sporting Lisbon I was 26 and had a four year deal, I was there for seven months and I just played six games. I was improving and enjoying my time over there with the training and the kids I was playing with,” he further said.
Initially, Dream Chasers hopes to target around 30,000 young footballers across all centres in the first round of selection, which will analyse the football skills of the trainees according to the Sporting Clube de Portugal (SCP) curriculum. 3000 trainees will qualify for round two at an average of 200 per venue. From these, 45 will be picked for round three, who will be screened in Mumbai by talent scouts from SCP. From these 45 the best 15 will be selected.
The final 15 players will be entitled to a 14-days sponsored training camp at SCP. They will also be inducted into the special training program, which is a commitment for five years. These 15 will be based at the residential training centre of Proforce in Kolhapur, where, besides football training, their education as well as lodging and boarding will also be looked after. The program will include 10 months of football training in Kolhapur and one month of free training every year at SCP.
The final lot of selected footballers will be nurtured and undergo professional 360 degree training until the age of 18 at the residential training centre of Proforce — housed at the Dr. Cyrus Poonawala International School in Kolhapur.
A coach from SCP will be sent to stay with the trainees in Kolhapur with an Indian as his assistant. “We are considered as one of the best in recruitment. Football in India has a lot of potential,” said commercial head of SCP, Bruno Mascarenhas.
Dream Chasers will first kick off in Mumbai on April 9 & 10, before moving on to Navi Mumbai, Thane, Pune, Kolhapur, Baroda, Gandhinagar, Kerala, Delhi, Kolkata and Guwahati.
MFA / MFA Elite Premier League / MFA Super League
Redefining Mumbai Football: The unique approach of India On Track FC
In a football landscape where clubs often prioritize short-term success over long-term sustainability, India On Track FC (IOT FC) stands out as a beacon of dedication, unity, and unwavering commitment…
Mohun Bagan Super Giant produce magnificent triumph to storm into second straight ISL final after 2-0 win against Odisha FC
Kolkata, April 28: Mohun Bagan Super Giant emerged triumphant against the Odisha FC by 2-0 at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata tonight to win the second leg of their…
MFA / MFA Elite Premier League
MYJ-GMSC Completes Unbeaten Season with Draw Against Millat FC
Kartik Strike in the first half seize’s MYJ-GMSC their unbeaten debut season in MFA Premier League In a high-octane Clash at the MFA Premier League, MYJ-GMSC faced off against Millat…
MFA / MFA Elite Premier League
MH Oranje FC Seals Penultimate Game with Thrilling 2-1 Win Over Reliance FYC
Yogesh Kadam’s First-Half Brace Propels MH Oranje FC Toward a Strong Season Finish. MH Oranje FC clinched a significant 2-1 win over Reliance FYC in the penultimate game of the…
Mumbai City FC ease past FC Goa to set up blockbuster grand finale clash against ISL Champions Mohun Bagan Super Giant
Mumbai, April 29: Mumbai City FC set up a finals date with the Mohun Bagan Super Giant after defeating FC Goa by 2-0 in the second leg of their semi-final…
SSE BFC to conduct trials for U9 to U17 age group players
SSE BFC Soccer School will be conducting fresh trials this month for players aged below 17 to be part of their football program SSE BFC Soccer Schools is a football…
India Khelo Football Season 3 Trials for Mumbai and Thane are here
India Khelo Football (IKF) is back with Season 3 of its widely acclaimed trials with an aim to cover more than 50 cities this time around. After the resounding success…
Feature / Recommended / Trials
Mastering the Art of Football Trials: Key Pre-Trial Factors to Keep in Mind
Football trials are a critical juncture for aspiring players to showcase their skills and secure a spot in a team. To maximize your chances of success, it’s essential to tailor your approach based on your playing position as well as keeping in mind a few pre-trial factors.
Somaiya Sports Academy to conduct trials for MFA 2nd Division campaign
Somaiya Sports Academy is looking for passionate young football players for the Somaiya Sports Academy Football Team to compete in the MFA 2nd Division League 2023-2024. If selected, you will…
BFC Soccer Schools – Mumbai to conduct trials for U14 & U16 Girls
The BFC Soccer Schools Elite team girls’ trials are coming up in search of talented players from the U14 to U16 (Born 2009 and after) age groups into the club’s…
Opportunity to make the team: U.K.M. Kothrud FC conducts selection trials for girls team
Pune-based U.K.M. Kothrud FC has announced that they will be conducting selection trials for their girl’s team on 15th January 2023 The club welcomes all players to come and showcase…
The Sunday Football League Season 4 is back
The Sunday Football League is back with its fourth season, and it’s shaping up to be the best one yet. With eight talented teams competing at the Kes Kandivali turf, there…
BFC Soccer Schools Elite team trials in Feb
Bengaluru FC launched their Mumbai program last season with the Soccer Schools and Elite programs with its local partner Soccer Schools of Excellence (SSE). Bengaluru Football Club is a professional club…
India Khelo Football Season 2 Trials in Mumbai: A Chance to Kickstart Your Football Career
After conducting trials in 34 cities & villages across India, India Khelo Football is coming to Mumbai to hunt talent on 7th January. India Khelo Football kickstarted its season 2…
MFA / MFA Elite Premier League / Trials
Mumbai Customs to conduct trials for Elite League
Former champions Mumbai Customs will be holding open trials for the upcoming MFA Elite Corporate League (Elite Division) The 2019 MFA Elite Division champions Mumbai Customs are conducting open trials…