MONTHLY NEWSLETTER January 2022
Coach's Note Sandro Salami Head of Youth
Greetings, parents and guardians! Here's wishing all of you a very happy and prosperous New Year! A new year signals new beginnings. A chance to define ourselves and set our goals for the coming 12 months. And it is with this excitement and determination that we all approached this month of January. Unfortunately, COVID had other plans for us, and we have all been under lockdown until this wave passes by us. Thankfully, we are blessed with an amazing staff who take great care of us, and over these past three weeks, we have been safe and well fed.
As we begin to see the light at the end of the tunnel, we are ramping up preparation for our return to the pitch, and our Physiotherapy and Performance departments have been keeping the boys fit through customised exercise plans for all the boys. Now, as we prepare to get back on the pitch soon, we will focus on making up for all the lost time and really ramping our training up. Our bodies are ready and our spirits are high. I am sure that every player here will giving their all from day 1. And we will be there to help them every step of the way!
Counsellor's Note Padma Rewari Head of Child Welfare and Education
Dear parents and guardians, I hope you are all having a very happy and safe New Year! We have, unfortunately, been staying at home this month due to the COVID outbreak, so getting out and meeting the boys has been difficult, which, as you know, is something I cherish doing. But as they say, every cloud has a silver lining. A few of the boys had exams this month, so this enforced break allowed them to really focus single-mindedly on preparing for them, and they all reported having felt well prepared for them! As this enforced break is almost over, the boys can shift their focus back on to training, and in all of my online interactions with them, that excitement really comes through!
In other news, I am pleased to welcome Merlyn Martin to the Welfare department! Merlyn joins us as an intern initially, but has experience working as a Counselling Psychologist with a wellness firm, as well as working with children in a foundation run by Akanksha, a non-profit based in Mumbai. She holds a Masters in Counselling Psychology from St. Xavier's College, Mumbai, and is an athlete herself! I'm sure she will fit right in here, and will be a real asset to RFYC going forward! And with that, I'll take your leave for now. I hope you all are doing well, and are safe.
Spotlight
Malhar Mahol U - 16 Goalkeeper
Tell us a little about yourself. I am Malhar Mohol and live in Pune. I play as goalkeeper for Reliance Foundation Young Champs. I joined RFYC in 2019-20 season and I am really happy to be here .
What is your biggest strength as a GK? Which aspects of your game do you most want to improve this year? My biggest strength as a GK is shot stopping and I am very calm and make decisions under pressure. This year I want to improve in everything I do, but this time I am focusing more on distribution and playing counter attacking balls as goalkeeper is the first line of attack.
If you were a player in FIFA or PES, what would your rating be, and which club would you be playing for? My FIFA/PES rating would be around 55 but I am sure it will increase in future and be one the best rated player and the club I would be playing for is Liverpool.
Who is your football idol?
I idolise Sadio Mane even though his position is way different from mine. As a player Sadio is good technically but the main reason I idolise him is because of his attitude on and off the pitch, and he keeps fighting for his team no matter the game state. He is also one of the most humble people in football. As a GK I follow Kasper Schmeichel because of his qualities as a 'keeper and a leader!
Spotlight
Vanlalchhanchhuaha Fanai U - 15 Midfielder
Tell us a little about yourself. My name is Vanlalchhanchhuaha Fanai. I am 16 years old. My home town is Mizoram Champhai, and football is my passion.
What was the best moment of 2021 for you? What was your biggest achievement on and off the pitch? When we came back to the Academy after 1 and half year stay at home was a personal highlight for me. My biggest achievement on the pitch is how much I have improved in training and in matches. I try to learn everyday. My biggest achievement off the pitch is how much my bonding with my teammates has improved and as a result, the team chemistry has grown massively and helped us improve and develop as a team.
If you were a player in FIFA or PES, what would your rating be, and which club would you be playing for? I'd be a player in Manchesr United, assisting Ronaldo in scoring goals. I'd be rated 81, but with a high growth potential!
Who is your football idol and why? Xavi, because of the way he controls the game and his qualities like his vision , his ability to read the game, and his overall technical abilities inspired me as a young child and still do!
Spotlight Stephen Charles
Head of Scouting
Tell us a little about yourself. Hi, I'm Stephen, also known as Steve. I head the Scouting department at RFYC, and have worked in youth football for over 8 years and senior football for 3 years. I previously worked with FC Pune City in the Indian Super League before making the switch and coming here!
Why scouting? What draws you to this aspect of coaching? I personally feel scouting is the most important vertical in any club or academy. The responsibility of getting the best/top talents is immense and one needs to keep his eyes/ears open 24/7. I personally enjoy this role as I get to travel the length and breath of the country watching and understand different players. In fact, a few of my friends even call me 'Stevie' because they're always "wondering" where in the country I am! The sense of satisfaction when you do justice to talent and give someone an opportunity to showcase their talent is immense.
How was your process affected this past year? Due to Covid, our scouting operations have been affected massively. As all the local tournaments and leagues were called off. Scouts found it difficult to visit places and look for players. Our partnership with AiSCOUT has been quite fruitful and it has taken us to places where our scout couldn’t reach. The online scouting platform attracted many young talented footballers to give a shot at RFYC trials.
When scouting players, what are the qualities you look for? We always try to ask ourselves a few questions while watching a player. From a technical stand point:- can the player pass, kick, and receive the ball with both his feet? Can he perform skills with both his feet? Can he consistently make good decisions under pressure? From a mental stand point:- Is he an introvert or an extroverted player on the pitch? How does he communicate with his teammates (positive or negative)? Does he lead by example?
What is the skillset for being a (good) scout? As scouting is more objective, a scout must be sure of what they are putting on paper. They must have an eye for talent and understand the difference between talent and potential. A deep understanding of the technical, tactical, physical and mental demands of the game while watching a player is a must. They need to know the 'DNA' of the club or academy for which they're scouting the players, since certain clubs and academies require a very specific type of player, and the scout must be well versed with the requirements. Scouting is not a 9-5 job. One must be willing to invest a lot of time and keep their eyes and ears open 24/7, as talent is not confined to only the football pitch. Some of the best players in the world have emerged from playing on the streets, beaches, or open fields!
We'd love to hear from you. Please write to us at contact@rfyounchamps.org