Jamshedpur FC to head to Spain or Thailand for pre-season training” Steve Coppell
It’s a home coming for me: Subroto Paul
Jamshedpur, July 26: Manchester United legend and Jamshedpur FC head coach on Wednesday said the team was looking at possibilities for pre-season training at Bangkok (Thailand) and Spain.
The pre-season training becomes important before the league commences and once the team is finalized with signing of the foreign players we will be finalizing about the training and Europe provides the best facilities when it comes to football and playing against good competitive team ahead of the season will benefit the team at large.
A total of eight foreign players will be recruited while five players will be allowed to player from this season, informed Coppell.
Talking about his earlier stint with Kerala Blasters, Steve Coppell said, “There we had to travel for an hour from the hotel to the stadium but the advantage with Jamshedpur is that we can reach the stadium in just five minutes which would benefit the players.”
Talking to the media-persons, Coppell, said, “It’s a proud moment to come to Jamshedpur and as I got the offer from the Tatas, I couldn’t refuse.”
“The support of the people is immense and we will be working hard to make a club. The season starts in the middle of November and we hope the JRD Stadium will be full during the matches,” said Coppell.
Sunil Bhaskaran, Vice President, Tata Steel, said, “There is only one chance out of ten to get the player of your choice but we are almost 100 per cent of what we wanted.
“According to football pundits and initial reports, Jamshedpur FC has a formidable squad of players”, said Bhaskaran, adding, “By August, the foreign players will be picked as the league starts on November 17 and now we are planning about the pre-season training.”
Bhaskaran further said, “It’s a bonanza which Jamshedpur has never seen.”
Talking about the training ground, Bhaskaran, who addressed a press conference at CFE today, said, “We had very little time this season and players will train at TFA ground which is in good shape and we are working on to enhance the facilities there. ‘We are looking at the options for new training ground in the city which will be available to the club from next season.”
Mukul Choudhari, Chief, TFA, said, “Right from Super Soccer days, Tata’s association with football has been immense. Tata Football Academy (TFA) set up 30 years has produced several players who have played for the country and Subroto Paul is a fine example who has been the most sought after goalkeepers of India.”
With the formation of Jamshedpur FC, community children will be benefited as they will get to see top class players competition against each other.
“We managed to pick only 1 player belonging to TFA as during the ISL draft it is difficult to pick the player of your choice,” added Choudhari.
Subroto Paul who is back to Jamshedpur after he passed out of TFA in 2004, said, “It’s a homecoming for me. I visited Jamshedpur twice once in 2012 during the Federation Cup and during a personal trip. I miss the Beldih Kalibari temple and Bistupur market where we used to go for shopping and enjoy our favourite delicacies.”
Also present at the press conference was assistant coach of Jamshedpur FC, Ishfaq Ahmed.