Hyderabad: Hyderabad’s footballers are geared up for the Spanish connection. Starting Sunday, youngsters will get a chance to imbibe skills and techniques from the footballing powerhouse as Albert Viñas Aliau, Director of Smart Football, Salou in Catalonia, sets about sifting talent from the City in a four-day camp titled First Goal. As a build-up, city-based Sports Village is organising a free interactive session and field time with the coaches on Saturday at the GMC Balayogi Stadium in Gachibowli from 9 am to 1 pm. Students of all reputed schools, colleges and youth from football academies can take part in it. “Good coaches, adequate facilities and regular competitions are a must to develop football in the country. I hope India will participate in the World Cup finals in future and some players on the team will be from Telangana,” Albert said on Friday.
For starters, he will “check the boys out and get a feel of the situation.” “The most important aspect of football is what you don’t see — the brain. The physique is not as important as the tactic. Spanish international Andres Iniesta is the best example of it — he’s not a strong or a fast player but an intelligent one,” Albert explained. At his academy in Catalonia, “training is centered around a player’s brain, which is the genesis of the popular Spanish quick-passing style tiki-taka. We want the players thinking all through for when they have the ball, they have a millisecond to make a decision after swiftly analysing their teammates, opponents and the situation.”
“We will try and help India progress in football. It took us many years to develop this methodology and could be transferred to India in the next five years,” Albert said, adding “Sports Village is our partner in South India and has exclusivity to our projects.” The Catalonian international academy at Salou has trainees from the world over including five from India. With 11 football fields and resort accommodation for the trainees it is the biggest facility in Spain. “I have been the Academy’s director for 20 years now and some of the coaches handling top-tier teams in Spain and Germany are my students, so also a few players in those leagues,” Albert said.
