Lucknow :
For 14-year-old Akash Mishra, a student of Lucknow’s Guru Gobind Singh Sports College, it is hard to tell when soccer turned from pastime to passion. But it sure yielded fruitful returns as Akash and 14 other children from across India have been chosen for a six-year training programme in Germany, during which the youngsters will train under coaches from Bundesliga Club TSG 1899 Hoffenheim.
Son of a farmer from UP’s Balrampur district (Tekuhikala, Pilibhit), almost 160 kilometres from the state capital, the family was initially reluctant to send their only son abroad, but when they saw the training facilities in Mumbai, their doubts and anxiety were gone.
Mishra, who plays at left full back position in his team would be leaving for Germany on Wednesday (August 19), and hopes to represent India in the FIFA World Cup 2017 (for the under-17 age group). Speaking to TOI, Akash said, “I was surprised when I came to know I had been selected for the training programme in Germany. I never expected to make it to the training schedule of Bundesliga.” Mishra and 14 others were selected through a massive talent hunt conducted across 50 cities of India in the presence of experienced coaches of the German soccer club.
Elaborating about his training module, Mishra said he is working on a strategy to use his right limb optimally to yield positive results. “In a tournament held in 2014, we were told about the possibility of selection for the German training programme,” said the budding soccer player, who idolises Cristiano Ronaldo and ace Indian footballer Baichung Bhutia.
Proud of his son’s exploits, Anil Kumar Mishra said, “We were reluctant when Akash was coming to Sports College Lucknow and when we came to know about his chance to go to Germany for a six-year training programme, we told him to decline the offer. But my son and his coaches convinced us about the bright prospects in sports, following which we relented.” Akash’s younger sister is happy for him.
“During the 6-year programme in Germany, Akash would get a chance to be with his family every six months,” said Anil Kumar.
Praising the budding footballer, coach Mahesh Gawali said, “TSG 1899 Hoffenheim is one of the best training grounds in the world and Akash would benefit from the exposure. He is a natural left-footer, a rare characteristic seen in Indian footballers. This will definitely give him an edge over others. Apart from this, he is dedicated and disciplined, an essential pre-requisite.”
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Lucknow / by Arunav Sinha, TNN / August 20th, 2015