Spurs to work towards grassroots development in India through new partnership

Tottenham Hotspur Football Club, also commonly known as Spurs, have announced a partnership agreement with Karnataka-based Indian football club Kickstart FC, which will see the London-based English professional football club support the development of local players and coaches in Bangalore. 

The partnership was revealed during Spurs Club Ambassadors Ledley King and Osvaldo Ardiles’ week-long India tour.

The agreement will see Spurs’ Global Football Coaching Team support Kickstart FC to “shape the Kickstart’s training sessions and football curriculum, with technical staff present in Bangalore to help Kickstart FC in aligning its training methods to those of the Tottenham Hotspur Academy.”

The deal aims to strengthen Kickstart FC’s youth teams through competition and talent development. Select players will also get to travel to and train with the Tottenham Hotspur Academy. 

Ledley King, Ambassador, Tottenham Hotspur FC, said:

“We are honoured to partner with Kickstart FC and this collaboration is testament to the global appeal of the sport and the potential for positive change the beautiful game inspires. We will be bringing our authentic coaching methodology to this region through our Global Football Coaching team, with the aim of making a positive and lasting impact on the Indian football landscape with Kickstart FC. The unique brand of football our coaches will bring to young players at Kickstart FC is something I have personally benefited from, as somebody that progressed through the Club’s Academy to become First Team captain and represent my country at major tournaments.“

Shekar Rajan, Founder & Chairman, Kickstart FC, stated:

“We are glad to have entered into this partnership with Tottenham Hotspur, one of the biggest clubs in world football. There is no doubt that this partnership will help both clubs, as we are looking to learn a lot of best practices from them and thereby strengthen our youth development and women’s football. There is a lot to learn from a club like Tottenham Hotspur and we are eager to imbibe all of it.“

Laxman Bhattarai, Founder & CEO at Kickstart FC, added:

“This collaboration with Tottenham Hotspur is a testament to our commitment to raising the bar for football development in India. We are confident that the shared expertise and resources will not only benefit our academy but will also contribute to the overall growth of Indian football. We are excited and will look to play a pivotal role in football development in India.“