Barcelona's football school conducts open trials in Delhi

27-Jan-2013 1:15:00 PM

FCBEscola Academy provides massive opportunities for talented youngsters to showcase their skills in the capital...

Republic Day turned out to be fabulous for yet another reason, football enthusiasts' from across India arrived at the IOS Maidan in Delhi to get a place in the FCBEscola Academy. Footballers in the age groups of U8, U10, U12, U14, U16 and U18 from over 200 schools and 38 cities competed with their peers to earn a spot in FC Barcelona’s official football school.

The young guns worked relentlessly at the open trials to pursue their dream of being trained the Barca way.
No points for guessing that the criteria for judgement was proficiency in tiki-taka along with values like tolerance, respect, solidarity, friendship, community spirit and integration. The trials will be a two stage process, with selected kids being called to a Final Trial in March. In the end, only a handful of highly talented ones will be invited to join the FCBEscola.

FCBEscola is the official football school of the top European club, FC Barcelona. The school operates with an intensive program that runs year round, in which the players train twice a week and play matches once every week. The FCBEscola is open for players from age 6-17. Once a player is selected to the said school, he goes through a continuous development program under the watchful eyes of official coaches.

Antoni Claveria, Director of the FCBEscola India Project appointed by FC Barcelona, will be charting the programme for the kids. With the Escola, FC Barcelona aims to provide sustained world-class grassroots training to aspiring footballers and help India build the foundation for better performance at global level.

Speaking about the trials, Claveria said, “This will engage promising young players from across the country. We look forward to participation and hopefully seeing some of the young enthusiasts play competitive football in coming days. While we have shortlisted potential participants from the earlier camps, the trials will give impetus to finalise the students who are going to be part of FCBEscola Delhi. I am really excited to meet talent from India. ”

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