Mumbai to have TFA-type academy

“We will be selecting 30 boys for each age group from all over India and will train them under the best available coaches,” added Sen.

Jarnail Singh, the legendary international full-back and Anant Ghosh, presently Sports Authority of India (SAI) coach are likely to join them as the trainers.

“We are negotiating with them and are hopeful that they will accept our offer,” said Sen.

Two of the BMFC regular players, Manjinder Singh and ‘keeper Arvind Kumar are believed to be visiting Punjab to negotiate with Jarnail Singh.

“The residential academywill also take care of the trainees schooling for which we have been talking to some of the local educational institutions like Father Agnel’s in Vashi,” he added.

The academy will be equipped with modern technology like computers, video camera and tapes besides football literature.

The BMFC is coming up with an exclusive football magazine called Goalpost.

The first issue of the bi-monthly magazine will hit the stands in the second week of September. Sen added: “We have been in constant touch with TFA (Tata Football Academy) director Chuni Goswami and Mohammed Habib (TFA coach) to help us set the academy.”

“The TFA is doing a great job by producing good footballers like Sanjib Shaikh, James Singh, Mahesh Gawli and Prabhjot Singh and the BMFC is planning to work on the lines of the TFA. We also plan to send the team abroad for short stints.”

When asked about the idea behind setting up the academy in Mumbai, Sen said, “Mumbai has produced great players like SS Narayan, Deryck de Souza andGodfrey Periera, but it is on decline since the last few years. We should not forget that India has been a football power in the Asia in the yesteryear and our aim is to produce players of international class.”