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Pune FC youth programme players striker Rushabh Dhere and goalkeeper Rohan Fasge earned a dream selection to be part of the Indian representation at the FC Bayern Youth Cup Under-16 Six-A-Side tournament scheduled at Munich this May.
The opportunity is a dream for the Pune FC duo, who along with 8 others selected, as they will get to play on the same pitch the Champions League finals at Allianz Arena, Munich is scheduled be held.
Both Rushabh and Rohan emerged the best 10 from India from among 500 aspirants and in the process became the first from the city to add glory to Pune’s football culture, which has grown manifold since the inception of Pune FC team and their success in the country’s top-tier I-League championship.
Pune FC were represented by three players – Atman Mehta being the third – at the final selection rounds in New Delhi when the Bundesliga giants visited the capital to play an exhibition match against India.
While Pune FC expects the selection should inspire others to take up the sport and excel, the duo’s nod for this big moment comes after both went though Pune FC’s programme since the past couple of years.
Rushabh’s selection comes after the close association of the club and Krida Prabodhini, the residential school at the Balewadi Sports Complex. Both having been working closely ever since Pune FC made Mhalunge-Balewadi Sports Complex ground their home base.
Importantly, it is also a matter of great pride that the Pune FC duo are among the five Maharashtra players in the Indian team, which itself is proof that talent exists among the young generation and the need of the hour is right grooming .
Rohan is a tenth grader from New English School, Tilak Road and a find during the Under-15 trials that Pune FC opens up to Pune players.
Pune FC Head Operations, Chirag Tanna added, “With the selection of Rushabh, the efforts of Pune FC and Krida Prabhodhini has paid off well and Rohan’s inclusion also proves that local talent exists. Moreover, it is a dream-come-true for these kids.”
The final phase of selection at New Delhi was done by FC Bayern Munich coaches Harald Cerny and Sebastian Dremmler for this years FC Bayern Youth Cup in Munich. Dhere and Fasge came through a field of over 500 aspiring U-16 players during the Mumbai leg of selection process held in December 2011.
Both were among a group of 18 finalists selected from the Mumbai leg and then joined 15 of their counterparts from Delhi during a weeklong training camp before playing the FC Bayern Youth Cup (India) Finals at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.
Throughout the training camp and the finals, both Dhere and Fasge impressed the FC Bayern coaches enough to be selected in the final 10 players.
Pune FC Head Youth Development, Ranjan Chowdhary added, “We whole heartedly congratulate Krida Prabhodhini for their support and likewise New English School for this joint success that could not of been achieved individually,”
“Players from all over the world go to Europe nowadays, so why shouldn’t we Indians go there and show our talent,” he added.
“We are deeply passionate and committed towards building Pune’s success as a footballing city. Over the last few years we have consistently supported grassroots programs that help the development of young footballers. Krida Prabhodhini has been a strong partner in many of our initiatives,” added Tanna.
Tanna explained, “Pune FC’s participation in the Bayern Munich event, we hope, is one of the many opportunities we expect and will provide to our youth programme players as and when they happen. Our aim is to discover the best talent locally and help city football grow.”
