Date:25/05/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/05/25/stories/2006052505490200.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Football fever catching up with children

K. Manikandan

Many below 10 years attend the camp at Tambaram

TAMBARAM: With just a few days to go for the FIFA world cup soccer tournament in Germany, football fever is catching up with children and the youth. The sprawling East Tambaram Railway Colony ground has become a training place for boys these days. The free coaching has been organised by the Perumal Football Club, in association with the Kancheepuram District Football Association (KDFA).

According to club members they wanted to encourage young people to take up football, which apart from being the most popular game in the world, also helps them to remain fit and athletic. They planned to give free coaching to about 25 youths in the age group of between 14 and 18. "But when many children below 10 years turned for the camp, that too from far off places, we were unable to say no," said D. S. Sivasamy, president of the KDFA. More than 50 boys were enrolled for the camp, he said.

The day begins with warm-up exercises. They are then trained in the basics of football--dribbling, ball control, team work and goal scoring. After this routine was followed for some days, the boys were divided into batches and friendly matches were played.

Boys are coming from Guduvanchery, Urapakkam and Karapakkam and they have not missed even a day. Mr. Sivasamy said experienced coaches, including those with State football teams, were training the boys.

The boys are given a glass of milk and an egg.

The camp was part of efforts to give a fillip to the sport that was not receiving much attention.

There were about 12,000 registered members in all the football clubs in Kancheepuram district and this was a pointer to the interest towards this sport among the youth.

The coaching camp that started on May 1 will conclude on this Sunday.