Popular Football Academies in India

For all the football fans around India, Shiksha lists the best football academies in the nation where you can learn, grow and build a professional career in the sport.

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Premier Indian Football Academy (PIFA)

Location: MG Road, Bombay Gymkhana, Mumbai

Official website: Premier Indian Football Academy

On observing India’s absence from the 2002 FIFA World Cup, Nirvan Shah and Anjali Shah established the Premier Indian Football Academy (PIFA) in the same year. The academy was firmly entrenched in promoting football in India. Nirvan Shah has been a prominent figure in Mumbai’s football community for the last 18 years whereas Anjali Shah has served as the chairperson of the women’s football committee for Maharashtra state.

In India, PIFA has affiliations with the Mumbai District Football Association (MDFA), Western India Football Association (WIFA), All India Football Federation (AIFF) and Ministry of State for Sports and Youth Development (MoS SYD). The academy has successfully helped youngsters play for the state, country and abroad as well. PFA has also tied up with globally renowned youth academy schools such as AC Milan Team Camp, Cruzeiro EC, Madrid Fundacion, Coaching Connexions and Rangers Soccer School.

PIFA provides great exposure to players as the academy has conducted 37 camps in the last 12 years and has taken over 900 children from the nation abroad. PIFA has organized camps in cities such as Manchester, Rome, Madrid, Barcelona, Liverpool, and London.

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Tata Football Academy (TFA)

Location: Inner Circle Road, Bistupur, Jamshedpur, Jharkhand

Official Website: Tata Football Academy

Tata Football Academy’s (TFA) strategy is simple, ‘CATCH THEM YOUNG’ and provide the children of today the best in terms of training with modern techniques, tactics, physical and psychological conditioning and related inputs. Equipped to match international standards, TFA is spread over an area of 25,000 square feet and can accommodate up to 40 trainees.

It is no secret that Jamsetji Nusserwanji (JN) Tata is known to have a lot of admiration and commitment towards sports and confirming this, the steel magnate advised his son, Sir Dorab Tata, to develop and promote sports such as football, and hockey, and parks among other things in India. To fulfil JN Tata’s aspiration, JRD Tata established the Tata Football Academy (TFA).

“The Academy not only provides intensive training but also all-round developmental opportunities with facilities for formal education and vocational training. The fully residential programme includes special features such as boarding and lodging, monthly stipend, playing kits, summer and winter clothing, ceremonial kits, comprehensive medical care, education, a group insurance scheme and other benefits”, states the official website.

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All India Football Federation (AIFF)

Official Website: All India Football Federation

Founded in 1937, AIFF gained FIFA affiliation in 1948. The AIFF manages the game of association football in India and it also administers the functioning of the Indian national football team and controls the I-League which is India's premier domestic football club competition. AIFF runs many football academies which are as follows:

Mumbai Regional Academy

Established in 2013, Mumbai Regional Academy based at Fr. Agnel Technical Education Complex, Vashi, Navi Mumbai is a bi-partite effort and a collaboration between AIFF and Fr. Agnel Charities. Talking about the infrastructure at Mumbai Regional Academy, AIFF’s official website states, “The training infrastructure includes the artificial football surface for matches and training, Gymnasium and Swimming Pool while accommodation facilities include dormitories for players, single rooms for officials and staff, treatment rooms and classrooms for tuition and study.”

Boys under the age of 16 years are admitted for training at this soccer school.

Kolkata Regional Academy

This soccer school was launched in 2012 and is a joint venture between AIFF and Pailan Group where the infrastructure for accommodation is facilitated by Pailan Group while the training along with the technical expertise, training equipment, coaches alongside the players are recruited by the AIFF. As per the official website of AIFF, “The infrastructure consists of a Gymnasium which is equipped with multipurpose instruments and a swimming pool which is used for aquatic schedules and rehabilitation for players. The accommodation facilities include large 8-bed cottage rooms for players having 4 such rooms accommodating 32 players in total, single cottage rooms and duplex for officials and staff, treatment rooms and classrooms for tuition and study.”

Boys under the age of 15 years are admitted for training at this soccer school.

Goa Regional Academy

Established in 2014, the Goa Academy is based at the AIFF Training Centre, Goa. The Academy can accommodate 35 players. Meals provided at the Academy include Breakfast, Lunch, Snacks, and Dinner. Special emphasis is paid to the diet of the players.

Elaborating on the academic development of students at this football academy, the official website of AIFF states, “Academic development is crucial to all the players. Hence, the boys undergo proper schooling which ensures their Academics are never compromised. The study time stays from 10 am to 12 noon. There are two Teachers employed to teach the boys on all general subjects including English. In order to ensure that the boys take up their studies seriously, there is also the provision to have an Evening Study time from 7 pm to 8.15 pm.”

Boys who are below 14 years old are admitted for training at this soccer school.

Goa Elite Academy

Established in 2013, Elite Academy in Goa can accommodate a maximum of 30 players at a time. Elaborating on the Elite Academy, the official AIFF website says, “The concept of the Elite Academy roots from the process of selecting the ‘crème de la crème’, the best players graduating from the AIFF Regional Academies based in various parts of the country for their final development phase”. Explaining further the website states, “The best players from each of these Regional Academies are then selected to undergo Elite training for a period of two years that’d prepare them for professional football for Clubs all across”.

Boys who are below 19 years of age are admitted for training at this soccer school.

Bhaichung Bhutia Football Schools (BBFS)

Location: Delhi, Mumbai, Chandigarh, and Jammu

Official Website: Bhaichung Bhutia Football Schools

Established by Bhaichung Bhutia, India’s longest-serving football captain, BBFS has seven centres in Delhi/NCR, two centres in Chandigarh as well as one each in Mumbai and Jammu. This football institute’s official website states, “BBFS' Head of Coaching is Scottish Football Coach - Stevie Grieve, who brings with him 10 years of rich coaching experience in 4 countries over 3 continents. Stevie holds a Level 4 youth license as well as the most advanced Children's coaching certification - and has an in-depth understanding of technical and tactical aspects of the game”.

BBFS primarily caters to children in the age group of 5 to 18 years.

more.

Indian Tigers Football Academy (ITFA)

Location: Andheri East, Mumbai

Official Website: Indian Tigers Football Academy

Established in 2008 by Chelsea Players, Gareth Hall, David Lee, and Sherley Singh, Indian Tigers Football Academy has highly experienced Indian as well as international coaches. The Indian coaches at ITFA are Bernard Periera and Lachman Singh whereas the international coaches are Gareth Hall, Keith Dublins, David Lee, Colin Pates, and Michael Gilkes.

ITFA’s official website states, “ITFA has joined hands with Team Tours Direct International, one of UK’s leading operators of sporting tournaments and sports festivals and has branched out into the field of international sports events and talent scouting.”

Kolkata Football Academy (KFA)

 

Location: Newtown, Kolkata

Official Website: Kolkata Football Academy

Known as ‘KFA’, Kolkata Football Academy is one of the premier football academies in India. The city is known for its passionate and dedicated footballers with renowned clubs such as Mohun Bagan, East Bengal and Atletico de Kolkata setting a benchmark in the nation. While football is the top priority at KFA, academics are given the same importance as well.

Youngsters are provided opportunities and are provided with much-needed exposure as KFA’s players square up on the weekends with top clubs such as Mohun Bagan, East Bengal, Mohammedan Sporting, TFA, SAIL Bokaro and many more.

 

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