MUMBAI FC 

Essel Group envisioned the formation of a professional football club around the time when Zee Sports had bought the rights for broadcasting the I-League for a period of ten years from the All India Football Federation (AIFF). With Mr. Amit Goenka spearheading the project and with Mr. Sanjay Das given the Director’s role, they sought to develop a football club that the people of Mumbai can truly be a part of. Thus came about Mumbai Football Club’s formation on June 28, 2007, with the ideal of being a community based football club which focuses on the City’s youth and infrastructure development in a scientific and professional manner. The next step was to rope in Mukul Choudhari as the Business Development and Marketing Head and the experienced Henry Menezes was on board as the General Manager of the team. Mr. Menezes identified David Booth as the coach to take the reigns of Mumbai FC’s senior team and acquiring his services confirmed the Club’s first steps in the right direction.

The journey so far 

A dedicated team of young professionals was then put into place to handle marketing, administration and finance giving the club management the correct blend of youth and experience- just like a well balanced football team. The Club has adhered to every stipulated norm given by the AIFF and its internal growth has been fast yet systematic.

Mumbai FC has kept its promise of youth development by organizing the largest football tournament cum talent hunt in India- the Junior Champs Football Championship. The two month long tournament attracted a participation of over a thousand teams and ten thousand players.  “This initiative is part of the Essel Group’s larger plan to identify hidden sports talents and nurture them. Mumbai FC aims at building a strong football culture among the youth. We will also help the under privileged to hone their skills and gain respectable career opportunities in the future,” said Mr. Amit Goenka. Select players were scouted and the best talents have undergone trials to receive scholarships into Mumbai FC’s junior teams. These U-19 & U-15 teams will now participate in National tournaments like the I League for the U-19’s and the Manchester United Premier Cup for the U-15’s. The youth system is designed to act a home grown talent pool to feed the senior team.

First taste of success 

Mumbai FC played and emerged victorious in its first ever competitive tournament- the invitational All India Abhijit Kadam Memorial Football Tournament in Pune. Top clubs from India competed with Mumbai FC beating Vasco in the pulsating final. That set the right tone for the rest of the season as the senior team finished runner up in the Mumbai Football League and topped that by being crowned Champions of I League 2.  

Looking ahead 

It is understood that the average Indian child has become internet savvy and which is why the Club’s website is being renewed to help Mumbai FC’s supporters keep a tab on the latest developments and have a platform to share their ideas and thoughts on Mumbai FC’s growth. The website, mumbaifc.com, is being looked at as a major fan-base development initiative. Also, it forms a base for first impressions for any future partner.  

Plans to start a chain of Soccer Centres within the city are currently in the pipeline. These centres will coach interested kids in the “Mumbai FC Way”- which is to say the centres will impart standardized coaching and training in all centres for all age groups. These centres in turn give the club opportunity to scout talent in our own backyard.

MFC management recognize the importance of building a world class stadium for the sport to grow and for the players to improve and the process of acquiring land India’s first football stadium which meets international standards is ongoing. The Youth Academy is another facet closely linked to acquiring land. The Club has given top priority to it, with a high probability of a vastly qualified foreign coach administrating the growth of such an academy.

JUNIOR CHAMPS FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP 

If there ever was a tournament to be a part of, it is this. Over 10,000 participants have confirmed that Junior Champs is by far the biggest and the best football tournament there is. And why shouldn’t it be? With scholarship opportunities to represent Mumbai FC in national and international tournaments, the doors have been opened to a new age of professional and scientific Indian football. 

Dreams of representing the National team at the world stage aren’t distant dreams anymore. Even the fantasy of playing in Europe has been turned into reality, as the top ten talents selected after conditioning with Mumbai FC get to train in a top European Club to develop their skills further. 

The inaugural Junior Champs held between February and March of 2008 spanned across Mumbai, Navi Mumbai and Thane. A turnout of over 1000 teams in 16 zones brought out the best talents from the island city and kept the scouts furiously scribbling on their notepads. 

Mumbai was the victor in the end with over 1400 talented players short listed for further trials. Junior Champs is scheduled to be held in November- December this year and will be held in these months annually as it expands its horizons to other parts of the state and country. 

Officials  

David Booth Head Coach 

David is an experienced international coach, having been the National coach of Myanmar and Brunei. He has also coached top clubs in the UK, Ghana, Vietnam, Thailand and Maldives. 

Arshad Hussain Assistant Coach

Henry Picardo Second Assistant Coach

Players to be watched this season

Anas Edathodika - Centre Back

Abel Hammond – Forward

Abhishek Yadav – Forward

Kalyan Caubey-Goalkeeper

S Kutty Mani –Midfielder

Mumbai Football Club

6^th Floor, Thakur Cinema Bldg,

Thakur Village, Kandivali (East)

Mumbai 400 101

Tel:       +91 22 2846 5061 / 62

Fax:      +91 22 2846 5063

E-mail:  info@mumbaifc.com

Website: www.mumbaifc.com