Chelsea continue search for an Asian football star
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Chelsea continue search for an Asian football star
Chelsea's initiative of trying to find an Asian football star will see them hold trials between 29 and 31 May.
It is the scheme's second year and six players will get the chance to win a week-long trial at the club's academy.
The tournament is open to Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan and Bangladeshi players aged between eight and 13.
"This is a huge opportunity to come to Chelsea and enjoy the best coaches and the best training ground,' said Blues boss Carlo Ancelotti.
"Everyone with a love for the game should sign up and see what they can do.
"It will be great fun and a good way to make new friends and who knows, perhaps one day we will see one of them at Chelsea."
Chelsea launched the first project of this kind last year and have increased the number of places available on the week-long trial from three to six.
The Stamford Bridge outfit had 350 participants at their Cobham training ground in 2009, with two of the winners having been signed by Southend United and Leyton Orient.
"My life has changed quite a bit after winning the trials," Jordan Sidhu, who was signed on a youth contract by Southend United, told BBC Asian Network.
"I'm now playing a high standard of football and am happy that I've got a chance to realise my dream of becoming a professional footballer."
The youngster explained that he only entered because of his mum.
"I came home from school and my mum said she had signed me up for a competition," he added. "I didn't expect anything from it but I went along and ended up winning it.
"The trials are very good because they are a lot different from what I was used to. There were big training grounds, nice facilities and I met Florent Malouda, Petr Cech, Nicolas Anelka and other Chelsea players.
"At first I was a bit starstruck, but I got used to it."
Chelsea have teamed up with Asian Media Group, Kick It Out and bhangra singer Jaz Dhami to help get the Asian community involved.
"I have been working very closely with a number of sporting bodies in encouraging more Asians to get involved in football," said Dhami.
"I want to help break down boundaries and encourage more Asians to get involved in the game."
bbc
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seriously do they expect to find an asian star that will command a regular first team place? or they have marketing in their plans to conquer asia.
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Needless to say... it is on marketing purposes... a player (even on the bench all the time) will generate additional interests, particular from that country the player plays for.
Clubs have to venture out of Europe, in order to attract more interest & coverage in other continents.
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zzz y dun they find a singaporean one
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Marketing plans obviously. Some what like the Barcelona ones.
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never mind their motive as long as asian benefits.
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Like fellow forumers here like to say, Alam shah can?
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Originally posted by Paisley:
Like fellow forumers here like to say, Alam shah can?
First day fight with Drogba liao Fazrul Nawaz, Isa Halim and Hassan Sunny stand our nation's best chance. -
Originally posted by spike_jose:
First day fight with Drogba liao Fazrul Nawaz, Isa Halim and Hassan Sunny stand our nation's best chance.
They wan Harris Harun ??? -
can fight win or not .
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You all don't underestimate Singaporeans lah... If I play pro soccer, Singapore would have won the World Cup already... but Singaporeans under family Lee, we all advised to study hard and concentrate on our studies lah. Sadly even my parents think study is the only way out of life, now that I am grown up, I realize it's quite bad advise. The good advise is to follow your dreams and passions. That's when you learn to live and not go through your existance like a zombie. =D
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I still can play! I tried for national team B4 & showed them what i really can do.
But they interest in ppl who can "por" them better. So i was rejected.
Since then, SG never made it in soccer.
Had i been playing.......SG can even make it to Goal 2006 even !