Sports

Sporting United to play Gokulam FC on Aug. 25

August 14, 2018
Sporting United team, which won the 2018 SIFF Junior Champions league, with guests and officials.
Sporting United team, which won the 2018 SIFF Junior Champions league, with guests and officials.

By Naser Feroke

JEDDAH
— Sporting United Jeddah, hat trick winner of SIFF Junior Champions League, will be playing a friendly football match with the junior team of Indian football I-League fame Gokulam FC of Kerala on August 25 at Malappuram Downhill Municipal Stadium in Kerala.

Sporting United football academy of Jeddah has been providing opportunities for their boys’ to test their skill against professional junior teams abroad during holidays.

This will be their sixth effort as they had already played against ISL side Chennai FC in 2017 at Chennai, Baichung Bhutia Academy in 2016 at Delhi, I-League side Hindustan Football Club, Calicut’s SEPT Academy in 2014 at Farook College ground and Subroto Cup champion MSP School Malappuram in 2015 at Malappuram.

Though Gokulam FC sits atop the Indian junior football as it thrashed Bangalore FC juniors 5-0 in the Indian junior football championship in Coimbatore recently, Sporting United officials are aiming for experience against a professional side. This will help Sporting boys boost their confidence and take part in selection trials in Kerala for colleges and professional teams, according to Sporting United Chairman Ismail Kolakkaden, chief coach Shabeer Ali and technical committee head Naser Feroke.

Sporting academy treasurer Mustafa Chalil and event management head Ashraf Alanalloor, who are already in Kerala, have made all arrangements for the friendly match.

Sporting United, which was formed in 2012, has by this time proved their prowess in a number of tournaments held in Jeddah. It has dominated SIFF championship for the last three years, earning the inimitable honor of hat trick winner.

Over 140 boys from various states of India — Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Goa, Delhi, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Telengana — are undergoing training in four categories.

Other than former La Liga player Alesandro Alvarez, who is imparting training to U-12 boys, there are 8 coaches, including a goalkeeper trainer, working for the academy.


August 14, 2018
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