The Hero Indian Super League’s first phase of ambitious grassroots development program for its clubs concluded in Kolkata on Wednesday with over 100 children participating in a grassroots festival at the Bidhannagar Municipal Sports Complex.

Former India captain IM Vijayan and Subrata Dutta (President, Indian Football Association & VP, All India Football Federation) were present as special guests on the occasion along with ISL’s Team Mumbai players Subrata Pal and Syed Rahim Nabi.

The three-day Grassroots Workshop was organised with the aim of educating and training the Hero ISL clubs appointed grassroots development officers in both theoretical as well as practical aspects of different age group training. In all 26 such grassroots development officers participated in the three-day workshop, conducted by Piet Hubers, UEFA Grassroots Expert from the Netherlands, who was present here as a special invitee along with Scott O’Donell, Technical Director – Academies and Director Coach Education at AIFF.

One of the major objective of the Hero Indian Super League is to spread grassroots football in India. As part of this endeavour, each of the ISL clubs are required to undertake grassroots program in their respective home city through in-school and maidan initiatives.

As part of the first year initiatives, each club would target reaching out to 1.25 lakh children in their home city through such initiatives, culminating to one million reach in inaugural year. In coming years, the Hero ISL clubs will star age specific training programs in nurturing young footballing talents.