Date:11/03/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/03/11/stories/2008031155571800.htm

Sport - Football

Premier skills programme starts

KOLKATA: The Premier Skills project, a coaching development project, run in conjunction with the British Council, which got off to a start here in the city, will be training 40 coaches selected from the eastern region.

The five-day programme, to be held at the SAI Eastern Centre from Tuesday, will be conducted by former Premier League stars Warren Barton and Robbie Earle, who also have FA ‘A’ coaching licenses.

The skills development programme coincided with the recent announcement of the EPL going global with the ‘Game 39’ — which is an innovative concept extending the EPL beyond the English shores.

Addressing a news conference, Barton said the programme has been designed looking at the specific requirement of the Indian coaches. The trainees would be given lessons on coaching techniques and will also be introduced to given lectures on diet, sports medicines and English and cultural studies. — Principal Correspondent