MONTHLY NEWSLETTER April 2022
Coach's Note Sandro Salami Head of Youth
Greetings, parents and guardians! With the doors finally opened, We've spent most of April making up for lost time! In April, we've spent as muvh time playing teams from outside as possible, getting valuable game time for all of our players. While the U-16s took part in the JSW Youth Cup in March and got some important minutes into their legs, the U-15s travelled to Dubai for the MINA Cup, where they shone (Aryamann was even voted the best Goalkeeper of the tournament!) Meanwhile, our U-18s are currently in Goa participating in the Reliance Foundation Development League. This tournament is important for the boys from a playing perspective anyway, but also holds added value
for the players who will graduate this year. This tournament is a platform for them to showcase their talents, and hopefully be spotted by some top football Clubs. In the next month, our U-14s will be travelling to Bengaluru for the U-14 JSW Youth Cup tournament. This competition comes just as we close for the season, and we hope that these minutes will hold the players in good stead come the start of next season in June. These matches in these tournaments are great opportunities for the players to start playing competitive football again, and learn to cope with the various difficulties that come with it.
Counsellor's Note Padma Rewari Head of Child Welfare and Education
Dear parents and guardians, As Sandro mentioned in his note, April has been exciting for all of us, as we FINALLY start to step out and play games. But it has also been a month of intense focus on academics, as our kids sat for their exams. As the season draws to a close, the boys who have started their new academic sessions have had time to adapt and adjust to a new environment just in time for the summer break. As the new boys came in, we had an orientation session with them, and also educated them on 'Good TouchBad Touch' and other important concepts.
Merlyn has been working closely with all of the boys too and trying to implement an evaluation for the boys to gauge their areas of interest and try and suggest areas of focus for higher studies for the older boys. As this season comes to a close and we break for the summer, I'd like to wish you all a very happy summer! We hope the boys get to spend some good quality time with family over this coming month,
Spotlight Mihir Mohite U - 15 Defender
Tell us a little about yourself. Hello! My name is Mihir Mohite. I’m a footballer at the Reliance Foundation Young Champs academy. I’ve been in this Academy for 3 years, and I hope to make everyone here proud and become a top player once I graduate! I love football, and the Academy has provided me with every facility possible to achieve my dreams, for which I am grateful.
You recently travelled to Dubai for the MINA Cup. How was that experience? It was a great experience and a good exposure trip to Dubai and playing in the Mina Cup . After 2 years of indoors where everything came to a complete stop, this was the perfect opportunity for me and the team to travel for this tournament. We all were very excited, and i we performed really well in the matches. The hotels and all the other facilities which were organised by the organisers was amazing too!
What was the best part about the trip? IThe best part about this trip were the places we visited in Dubai. We went for the Desert Safari where we had loads of fun. Also the food we had in the hotels just amazing! We got the best experience to play against foreign teams and perform our best, so it was really a good feeling to play those matches after 2 years of staying indoors. The energy and the excitement was flowing through the team throughout the tournament!
Who is your football idol? Tell us what you most admire about them. My footballing idol is Cristiano Ronaldo. The best thing I admire about him is the hard work he is the best example that without hard work talent, is nothing. I just love the way he never gives up.
If you were a player in FIFA or PES, what would your rating be, and which club would you be playing for? If I was a FIFA player I would be playing for Real Madrid and my rating would be 85.
Spotlight Don Arnold Danthi Coach - U-13
Tell us a little about yourself.
I'm Arnold Danthi, and I'm the head coach of the U-13s. While I have previously been a part of coaching different age groups, my passion has always been working with the newcomers and solidifying their fundamentals first and foremost. Off the pitch, I also serve as the team Manager for the Academy, and help out in administrative duties here.
You've made the transition to head coach of the U13s this season. How do you reflect on your journey so far? I'm grateful for my experiences in the Academy so far. Each and every one of them has shaped me into the person and coach I am today. If I feel confident in my ability to do the job, its becauuse of the learnings I have had along the way. From working with Mark, to being the Team Manager, to scouting, each additinal role has taught me elements thatI will use as a coach. Being in this Academy also helps us to learn.. Being in such close proximity with the players as they develop, we learn how they learn, what shapes their behaviour, and how we can help create an environment that facilitates their development. That, in my view, is pretty much what coaching is all about.
The pandemic and lockdown reinforced the value and importance of family for me
A long season is coming to an end soon. Do you have any plans for the summer? I honestly don't know if coaches ever really get time off. You're always thinking about what's next. Next season, next session, and progression of the players. But I do enjoy spending time with my family. The pandemic and lockdown really reinforced the value and importance of family for me!
We'd love to hear from you. Please write to us at contact@rfyounchamps.org