Real Madrid plan to open football school in Kerala

New Delhi: Spanish club Real Madrid are believed to be ready to set up a football school in the city of Kochi in Kerala, with a plan to extend their trademark ’social-sports academies’ that have been set up worldwide by the Real Madrid Foundation.

Although the academy plans are still in their initial stages, Kerala Football Association (KFA) president KMI Mather has already revealed the venue for the soccer school.

“The Sports Minister has suggested the Panampilly Nagar Sports Hostel (in Kochi) as the venue for the soccer school,” said the KFA president.

Spanish club Real Madrid are believed to be ready to set up a football school in the city of Kochi in Kerala.

A meeting was conducted between the director of Real Madrid Foundation’s youth camps Manuel Tarreno Rodriques and the Sports Minister for the state of Kerala KN Ganesh Kumar.

The meeting was also attended by president of Kerala Sports Council Padmini Thomas, president of Kerala Football Association KMI Mather, Member of Legislative Assembly Hibi Eden and former sports minister Dominic Presentation.

“Real Madrid will send coaches, and they may also take some of the boys from here to their academy if they are very talented,” added Mather.

KFA secretary P Anilkumar also said the Panampilly Nagar Sports Hostel was the finalised venue, which could get an artificial football turf and a swimming pool, besides a multi-purpose gym.

“The Panampilly Nagar Hostel, which is run by the Kerala Sports Council, will have a very modern look. Real Madrid are likely to start projects in other parts of Kerala too,” said Anilkumar.

In India, the Real Madrid Foundation already has an institution in the Kheadah region of West Bengal, which happens to be their maiden project in Asia, catering to the education of 150 students between the ages of 7 and 15 years.

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