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Soccer Connections is a division of Phoenix Sports & Leisure Group (PSL) http://www.pslg.co/ with its Head Office in Mumbai. It provides organized sports for children as well as organize professional sports events. The CEO of PSL, Rahul Raichand, shared some insights about PSLG with us.
Q. Please tell us about what the PSL group seeks to for with both the market segments: sports for kids and at the professional sports level?
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Soccer Connections’ primary role is to ensure children get off the computers and TV and go out and play healthy sports. We believe Soccer; more than most sports helps develops character and personality in a child. We try and provide the best infrastructure, equipment and coaching to our students to hone their talent and ensure we bring out the best in a child.
We have realized that the coaching methodology is better in Europe and South America, therefore we bring down coaches from there to teach our children the latest techniques.
PSL team has worked on some of the biggest event in the World such as the Cricket World Cup in South Africa to Champions Trophy in the UK, in India I have been involved in the marketing, broadcast and organsing the I League and Federation Cup in Football, also worked on the Professional Golf Tour of India and Marathons and Cyclothons.
We are in the process of organizing a Professional Marathon in India.
Q. What have some of the notable successes for Soccer Connections been so far?
Soccer Connections has organized one of the most high profile Football leagues called JFC ( Junior Football Championships). It is in its 3 rd year. We have over 600 children participating.
In 1 year we have launched centers in Ahmedabad, Chandigarh, Mohali, Mumbai and Pune. In each of these cities we are associated to the top club and the top schools. Such as Karnavati Club in Abad, Chandigarh Club in Chandi, Bombay Gym (TBC) in Mumbai and Poona Club in Pune
Besides this we are also very proud that in our first year of Coaching Bombay International School we won the school a trophy in the Mumbai Schools Football tournament.
Also one of our students from Pune got selected to go to Escoloa – the official Barcelona FC Academy
Q. On the sports for kids side, you have focused a lot on soccer versus, cricket, the national obsession. Why is that?
Like I mentioned earlier, we believe Soccer builds character in a child. Its about winning together or loosing together, laughing together or crying together. The sport is short, but you need to be at your fittest best to compete.
With all due respect to cricket, automatically there is internal negative competition within a team, you want to outscore your team mate, or as a bowler you don’t want the bowler from the other side to take more wickets than you. I don’t want to get into more negative details on cricket. I spent more than 4 years organizing the biggest cricketing events and have worked closely with this sport and still have friends in the sport
Q. You have 3 soccer programs - Soccer connections, JFC and Soccer Tots. Can you tell us the difference between these 3 programs?
Soccer Connections – It’s a programme for boys and girls from 5 to 12 years old. Its much more that quality soccer training. Soccer Connections is a fun programme which uses football as a medium for children to learn team work, discipline, build character and get fit. All in a fun play environment. The programme also ensures children improve their football skills and we work hard to bring out the best in a child.
Soccer Tots - Its prorgramme for boys and girls from 2.5 to 5 years. A fun play session built around the game of football. Soccer Tots help children develop their motor skills, including sense of coordination and agility. The programme also helps a child develop their social skills like listening, being part of a team and sharing. Additionally the children get a healthy fitness workout.
JFC – Junior Football Championship – Mumbai’s most prestigious football league for children and now we will be starting it shortly in Ahmedabad and Pune.
JFC is planned on the basis of a football league for children as a platform; around it we create a family day out. Therefore creating a healthy & fun way to spend quality time together as a family.
JFC’s concept is to provide a protective environment where we have 4 matches going on simultaneously, comfortable seating for parents and family members to watch and cheer their young ones; provide great music and make available good food for parents entertainment – an ideal family day out.
This league concept was formed after doing extensive research of Pro leagues as well as little leagues in Europe and American. The championship is played on a League come Knock-out format
Q. How many kids in how many cities are covered by these soccer programs?
Soccer Connections is across 5 cities and we cover over 1500 children
Q. In most cases, are the programs run exclusively by you or do you partner with schools and run the programs on their behalf.
It’s a mix. In some cities we have a Franchise partner running the programme for us and the others it is run exclusively by us.
Q. Where do you see soccer in India in the next few years and where would Soccer Connections be in terms of being a part of that vision?
I believe Soccer is the clear number 2 sport in India and the gap with cricket will narrow in the coming years. In the next 5 years we will have a team that can compete in Asia.
Soccer Connections is working on the grassroot level of the sport and will carry on doing that. We will be in 10 cities in the next year and in 20 in 2 years. We will our bit to develop the interest in the sport and try and try and create future Messis for the country
Q. Do you undertake any sporting activities for children that cannot afford to pay for sport and lesuire activities?
We provide free training to all the children in Hosiarpur Village in Punjab. This programme is run through the year.
We have also worked with Wockhardt Foundation and Akansha Foundation during the JFC.
Many thanks for taking the time to speak to us.
