Thiruvananthapuram: A small team under Michelle Vrieling, 21, a Holland Women's Eredivisie soccer league player has arrived in the city to promote the lady's soccer. The initiative will be part of a collaboration between Kerala-based Green Field Cubs (GFC) and a Dutch sports education company Sports Networking. The allies have brought in UEFA ‘A’ licensed European Football coaches for training in the state. They plan to hold a school-level selection trial, conduct district camps, form teams and hold a league.
“Our coaches, Radek Rusin and Mikolaj Raczynsci, have been training young soccer players in Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha and Kollam since last three months,” said Shine Vijayan, CEO of GFC. “Schools ask us how they will benefit from this. There are so many small time players who play well and end up becoming an electrician or an engineer. We want these potential players to train scientifically. We will equip them to build a career as a coach,” he added.
Edwin Eekhof, CEO of Sports Networking, expressed dissatisfaction in the football facilities in South Kerala. He said the group would engage in talks with the government to improve infrastructure in the local grounds. The Dutch football academician said he was ready to bring experts and make turfs free of cost if necessary. “A young Keralite footballer is same like their Dutch counterpart. It’s just the infrastructure that comes in your way,” said coach Radek Rusin. Michelle will hold a talk on ‘Women Empowerment through soccer’ at Residency Hotel on April 7.
