Mumbai: A number of Mumbai City FC players visited St. Lawrence High School in Kandivali today to felicitate the school’s football team for winning the Mumbai School Sports Association (MSSA) Under-16 Division 1 title for the first time in the history of school football in the city.

The presence of leading players such as Germany’s Manuel Friedrich, a quality centre back and the first German footballer to play professionally in India, and top talent Abhishek Yadav, Rohit Mirza, Raju Gaikwad, Subrata Paul, Syed Rahim Nabi, Nadong Bhutia and Deepak Mondal encouraged the young footballers and boosted their confidence in the sport.

The Ryan International Group of Institutions has 40 Schools across Mumbai, Thane, Navi Mumbai and more than 130 schools pan India. The school has been actively promoting a number of sports especially football in its schools. They have recruited ex-international players and licensed coaches to train their young teams. Noteworthy is the fact that the girls team from Nerul won the state football championship and will represent Maharashtra in the Subroto Trophy in Delhi.

The Mumbai City FC players encouraged the efforts of the young players and presented football gear such as Adidas kit bags, footballs, sippers, stockings, shin guards, pumps and Gatorade sachets to them. The two coaches were presented with the football gear in addition to whistles and stopwatches. The players posed for pictures with the little stars and made the felicitation a day to remember for everyone involved.

Last week, the Club announced that eminent English football manager, television pundit and former England defensive midfielder Peter Reid will be Team Manager while experienced football coach and former player Steve Darby will be Assistant Coach of the team in the upcoming inaugural Indian Super League (ISL).

The team has been involved in a number of initiatives to encourage young Mumbaikars to play the sport.

Source: Lokesh Shastri