The early exit of their national team from the World Cup championship still haunts this football team from Spain.
But, unmindful of their country’s defeat, the 12-member team from Saint Cugat Esport Football Club is touring Anantapur to promote the world’s most popular game in the arid land of Rayalaseema. The team will be touring Anantapur, Hindupur, Atmakur and Batalapalli till August 4.
Thanks to the efforts of Rural Development Trust, an NGO known for its social and sports activities and its effervescent director Moncho Ferrer, teams from Spain has been visiting every year since 2007 to lift the standards of the game, which is in the cross-roads in Andhra Pradesh owing to internal squabbles.
Being natives of Spain, Ferrers have a strong connection with the European country, and Mr. Ferrer is doing his bit by introducing world-class skills as a gesture to Rayalaseema, which helped the Ferrers establish the well-known RDT in the 1960s.
“In the entire Andhra Pradesh, players from Anantapur are known for playing the European style of football, primarily owing to these Spaniards. Though football has taken a backseat in A.P., these Spaniards are giving a hope to youngsters,” says Venugopal, secretary, Anantapur District Football Association.
The team, led by coach Miquel Lladoplana, gave a power-point presentation to local coaches on the European style of playing, thus helping them take the game to 54 RDT centres in the district. “Over 200 players are benefited by the visit of the Spanish team. A dozen players from Anantapur have made it to the State teams in the all India schools competitions,” Mr. Venugopal adds.
The team has also bought the game’s paraphernalia such as T-shirts, shoes, stockings, training cones and football nets. “We are conducting a special training stint for under-15 boys and girls to identify talented players for the academy,” says RDT academy football coach Vijayabhaskar.
Several youngsters, who learned a trick or two from these friendly Spaniards, do not know where the country exists, but, for them, the annual visit of the footballers from the land of bullfight and wine will always be an unforgettable one.
