RF Young ChampsRF Young Champs

LaLiga invites Reliance Foundation Young Champs for friendlies

The Reliance Foundation (RF) Young Champs, India's first of its kind elite residential football academy, have been invited by Spain to play a string of youth friendlies against the top LaLiga teams.

The 10-day tour starting September 16, will see 30 academy talents in the U-12 and U-14 age groups arrive in Spain for an experiential visit focussed on training along with friendly matches against the best of LaLiga's academies including Real Madrid, Atletico de Madrid, Valencia, Villareal, Rayo Vallecano and Leganes.

The tour will also provide the opportunity to the RF Young Champs to visit iconic grounds like the Camp Nou and the Santiago Bernabeu to experience live LaLiga matches featuring Barcelona and Real Madrid.

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The Indian youngsters will be accompanied by their head coach Mark Vaessen and his support staff for the high-profile tour.

Santiago Bernabeu Real Madrid Malmoe UEFA Champions League 08122015Getty Images

The RF Young Champs residential football academy has been awarded the All India Football Federation (AIFF) highest four-star accreditation.

The sprawling academy, based in Navi Mumbai, has 48 talents across various age groups at its top-notch residential facility.

This is the second year in a row that the RF Young Champs have embarked on an experiential tour of a top European league. They had previously been invited by the Premier League to visit England in May last year.

22 academy residents had comprised the touring party which saw the RF Young Champs play nine youth friendlies against Premier League academy teams including Chelsea, Manchester City, Liverpool, Manchester United and West Bromwich.

Reliance Foundation Young Champs is an initiative launched by Reliance Foundation. The aim of the programme is to spot top footballing talent in the country between the age group of 11 to 14 years through the Indian Super League’s grassroots initiatives and give them the necessary impetus to enhance and hone their skills

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