Date:05/02/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/02/05/stories/2008020554071800.htm

Sport - Football

‘Premier Skills’ programme launched

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: Warren Barton and Robbie Earle, two former Premier League football stars, spent an hour with kids to launch the Premier League’s ‘Premier Skills’ an innovative coaching development project. The project, run in conjunction with the British Council, aims at working with youngsters with an intention to enhance their football coaching skills and also develop their English language ability.

Premier Skills is one of the Premier League’s first international development projects. It was launched in Egypt last year.

Barton and Earle enjoyed their moments with kids drawn from football academies run in Delhi by former internationals Tarun Roy and Anadi Barua.

Barton has played nearly 400 games for Wimbledon, New Castle United and Derby County while former Jamaica and Wimbledon international Earle finished his 600-match career with around 150 goals.

Earle, who was awarded an MBE in 1999, quit the game following his sustaining a ruptured pancreas from a vicious kick. Holder of UEFA ‘A’ licence, Earle is an ambassador for Wimbledon.

Premier Skills uses a number of innovative training tools to help the participants to develop their game through a CD-ROM that was designed by Dutch coach Michel Mommertz.

In India, the Premier Skills will be run in conjunction with the All India Football Federation and ESPN Star Sports.

Forty youth leaders would receive coaching tips from Barton and Earle.