SL grassroots workshop to train million kids
KOLKATA: Aimed at scouting and nurturing a million budding footballers, the Indian Super League (ISL) on Sunday kicked off its ambitious Grassroots Development Programme with a three-day workshop here. All India Football Federation’s (AIFF) Technical Director of Academies and Director Coach Education Scott O’Donnell, who is supervising the programme, said the ISL will play a catalytic role in raising the sport’s profile in the country. “There is no doubt the ISL and the involvement of international stars including the likes of Michael Chopra and Freddie Ljungberg will play a big role in raising the game’s profile in India. Indian football is now getting into the newspapers and the media, this is what you need,” said O’Donnell. “The aim at working at the grassroots is to make kids enjoy the game and its following increases. We want as many boys and girls to come forward. The programme aims to train at least a million kids.” Under the programme, each of the eight ISL franchises have pooled Rs.2 crore and appointed development managers and officers entrusted with the responsibility of scouting and training budding talents. O’Donnell and Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Grassroots Working Group member Piet Hubers held a theory session Sunday with the development managers and officers as a part of the initiative. “It’s not only about the basic skills of football but also about the approaches the trainers need to adopt while scouting and training the kids. The theory session involves lessons on the technical aspects of the game and scientific approaches about motivation, fitness training etc,” said an ISL official. (IANS)
I needed time in ‘impossible’ Man United job, says Moyes
LONDON: After lasting 10 months in charge of Manchester United, David Moyes does not believe he was given enough time to prove himself in the “impossible job” as Alex Ferguson’s successor. The 51-year-old, who took over at Old Trafford in July 2013, was sacked in April with United seventh in the league and no longer able to qualify for the Champions League. But speaking to the Mail on Sunday newspaper, Moyes said it was difficult to replace Ferguson, who enjoyed a trophy-laden 26 years in Manchester before retiring. “It was a step into the unknown and, looking back now, it was near enough the impossible job,” Moyes said. “I was devastated to lose the job because it was something I felt we could make a real success of. “We knew it was going to take time to make the necessary changes. It was going to take time to evolve. But we were in the process of making other important changes. “In the end, I don’t feel I was given time to succeed or fail.” His replacement, Dutchman Louis van Gaal, lost his Premier League opener 2-1 at home to Swansea City on Saturday with pundits expecting another tough season if more quality is not brought in during the last two weeks of the August window. Moyes dismissed suggestions he had fallen out with fellow Scotsman Ferguson after his sacking but did admit the club failed to secure their top transfer targets during his time in charge. At the time of Moyes’ arrival at United, Ed Woodward replaced David Gill as executive vice-chairman and the former Everton boss said a lot had changed at the club in a short space of time. “We tried to bring players in during the summer transfer window but they didn’t materialise,” he said. “It certainly wasn’t for the lack of trying. It wasn’t indecision. The complete opposite.” (Agencies)
Marquez run ends as Pedrosa wins Czech MotoGP
BRNO: Marc Marquez’s hopes of setting a record 11 straight MotoGP wins ended on Sunday as Honda teammate Dani Pedrosa of Spain won the Czech Republic Moto GP in Brno. Pedrosa, who also won at Brno in 2012, finished the 22 laps on the dry 5.4-kilometre (3.36-mile) circuit in 42min 47.800sec, ahead of Yamaha duo Jorge Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi, with Marquez finishing fourth. Marquez was looking to become the first premier class rider ever to win the 11 opening races of a season. Italian legend Giacomo Agostini won the opening 10 races of the premier class season in 1968, 1969 and 1970 at a time when he dominated the sport. However, no one has ever won the first eleven — in part because Agostini’s perfect season in 1968 comprised only 10 events. Marquez, who failed to make it to the podium for the first time since Australia last year, now tops the championship with 263 points, 77 ahead of Pedrosa and 90 ahead of Rossi. (Agencies)