Club hosts aspiring players from Indian partner club – Kickstart FC

A group of aspiring footballers from Bengaluru, India have been training at Tottenham Hotspur through the Club’s partnership with Kickstart FC. 

The partnership, announced during a visit of Club legends Ledley King and Ossie Ardiles to Bengaluru in November 2023, aims to support the development of local coaches and players in the region.

The week-long programme in London included technical training sessions for Kickstart players, led by our Global Football Development coaches, alongside health and nutrition workshops.

The group also played fixtures against local grassroots teams and were treated to a coaching masterclass by Ledley during one of their training sessions.

Ledley said: “The first time I went out to India, with Ossie, you could see how passionate this group were about football and their development. There are some very good players, so it’s just about reinforcing the small details that make a big difference, making sure they move away before receiving the ball and keeping their concentrations levels high, for example.

“It’s always great to speak to a few of the players about different aspects of their game, and they’re eager to learn, so I am sure coming over here, to these world class facilities, and working with our coaches is going to bring their game to another level.”

One of the players attending the training sessions is due to attend a series of college football trials in the USA. Vivek, 16, put in months of dedication and hard work with the Club’s football development team in India and is hoping to secure a place at a US college to continue his development.

Vivek said: “I started playing football when I was 11 years old and have played for Kickstart for many years. It’s been a long journey, a tough journey, but I have worked very hard to get to where I am now.

“When I heard Tottenham Hotspur were our partners, I was literally jumping up and down on my bed, as I knew I would get the opportunity to train at these amazing facilities! When I visited the training ground last year it really sparked something in my brain, to motivate me to work harder, in order to improve my level.”

Laxman Bhattarai, CEO and Co-Founder at Kickstart FC, added: “This is the second year that Vivek has come to Tottenham Hotspur, last year he was keen to make an impact in front of Ledley and the other coaches. This year, he arrived in the UK with a lot more maturity, and these sessions have really helped him ahead of his trials in the USA.

“It has been an amazing journey with Tottenham Hotspur since we signed the partnership, which is all about bringing Indian football to another level and how we can bring a group of talented young footballers to a global platform. We are very thankful to the global football development team at Tottenham Hotspur for their support. We look forward to returning very soon.”

Danny Mitchell, Head of Global Coaching for Tottenham Hotspur said: “It has been a real privilege for the Club to host representatives from Kickstart FC at our Training Centre again this year. Our partnership with Kickstart aims to provide a lasting impact on the Indian football landscape and we are particularly proud of the progress of Vivek, who will be undertaking college trials in the USA, serving as an example of the impact the programme can have on developing young players in the region.”

Kickstart FC’s presence continues to grow and its Women’s team recently finished runners-up in the Indian Women’s League, with our partnership aiming to support the development of the women’s game in the state of Karnataka.

The Tottenham Hotspur Global Football Development team impacts around 45,000 players and coaches annually across schools and grassroots youth football clubs.