KALYANI: Kids, kids every where, all of them to pick!
The size of the kids in the AIFF U-14 Football Fest, more-o-less stays the same. After all, they all are U-14 kids -- kids from 27 States all over the Country, 590 in all. And mind you, all of them share a common dream – the dream of representing the Nation someday in the future.
Head Coach, Youth Development Programme, Colm Joseph Toal stays an instant hit with all of them. The moment they see the white-haired gentleman, they come running, a desperate chase -- as if they are chasing the ball.
Most don’t carry mobiles at this age. Hence, the moment they reach, they look around to see if anyone can click them with Colm. Never mind if they don’t get a hard copy of the photograph; they will carry the memories lifelong.
The positive mindset that has been so synonymous with Colm stays evident. Colm shakes hands, asks them their name and which state they represent. Even as Colm signs autographs on their arms, the others who have spotted the conversation a bit late, are also running in.
“They are kids,” Colm exclaims. “Good kids,” he smiles.
Not all, but most know Colm by his name. “I know him. His name is Colm Toal. He is our India’s Head Coach for the Juniors,” Mizoram defender Michael Lalruattluanga is admired by the rest.
The others join in. “Which country does he belong to? And it goes on, till the time their Manager reminds them they are supposed to play next. The boys run again, this time to kick-off.
“Some of the kids have really impressed me,” Scott O’Donell, Technical Manager, Regional and Elite Academies, gets down to business. “We are here to spot talent. India is a vast country and the more boys we see, the better.”
By the way, O’Donell also stays an instant hit with the kids.
“Generally, from such a Fest, we select boys for the AFC U-14 Fests. But this time, we are looking to spot kids for the Regional Academies,” Colm adds.
The Kalyani Stadium, overlooking the vast lake, projects the most breathtaking view in Indian Football. The ground stays soft and lush green, something which AIFF Technical Director Rob Baan feels, “you can play European club-level football on.”
“We have over 30 full-size football playing fields within a radius of 7kms,” informs Dr. Pradip Sur, the Chairman of the Kalyani Municipality.
The enthusiasm at Food Court, where more than 350 kids can have their meals at one time, stays infectious. That stays the place where the kids mingle among themselves on the table -- different languages with different cultures and habits having the same meal together. And they just finish it off at one-go. You wonder – ‘Aren’t they supposed to have different food habits too?’
Outside the Food Court, you’d always spot some boys shaking a leg to ‘Waka, Waka…” They however, stand still the moment you spot them.
On the field, nevertheless, the spotting goes on. Besides, Scott and Colm, there’s National Coach Savio Medeira, Goalkeeping Coach Marcus Pacheco, former India Internationals Aqeel Ansari, Gautam Ghosh, Tarun Roy and Francisco Bruto da Costa and Hilal Rasool Parray – nine in all.
The day for the spotters, begin early. By 7.45am, they are all in their seats (matches go on in three different venues and kick-off at 8am) and once the day action ends around 4.30pm, they get down to a brain storming session which usually lasts around 90 minutes and often go down to extra-time.
Everyone tries to have a glance at the folders they carry. There are Jersey Numbers written on them with the names – some ticked, some crossed.
Kids, kids everywhere, all of them to pick. Early evening, there’s a chill in the Kalyani air. By the time they leave, the sprinkers at the Kalyani Stadium stay in full flow – watering the roots of the grass.