Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], July 6 (ANI): Reinforcing its dedication to rising the expertise pool for the Indian nationwide soccer crew, Reliance Foundation has introduced a global publicity tour to Japan for the highest three groups from the Reliance Foundation Development League (RFDL), India’s premier U-21 youth soccer competitors.
Following excellent performances within the 2025-26 season, the U-21 groups from Bengaluru FC, FC Goa and Punjab FC have earned the chance to compete in opposition to high Japanese opposition as a part of the Foundation’s continued funding in youth improvement, as per a press launch.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DacbzXporD6/?igsh=MWxzaGIyeWZ2d2hoNA==
The tour, going down from July 11-23 in Fukuoka, will see the three Indian golf equipment compete in opposition to main Japanese youth sides Avispa Fukuoka U18, Sagan Tosu U18, Giravanz Kitakyushu U18 and FC Baleine Shimonoseki U21. The matches are designed to show India’s most promising younger footballers to high-intensity competitors, completely different enjoying types and one in every of Asia’s most profitable soccer improvement ecosystems.
Former Indian nationwide crew captain and the present Bengaluru FC Reserves Head Coach Renedy Singh urged the significance of the Japan publicity journey, saying, ‘Through Reliance Foundation, we have been capable of play 23 matches over the course of the season, and now now we have an opportunity to check ourselves in opposition to a few of the greatest opposition on the earth. It is a superb platform for the groups, the coaches, in addition to the gamers.’
Adding to Renedy’s ideas, FC Goa’s Development Team Head Coach Israil Gurung said, ‘Japan has developed right into a powerhouse for soccer not simply in Asia however globally as nicely, due to their robust grassroots programme. It shall be an excellent expertise for our gamers after they journey to Japan and see the standard of soccer there. At FC Goa, we imagine that this can be a improvement part and alternatives like these will solely assist the gamers develop.’
Punjab FC, who have been a part of the earlier publicity journey organised by Reliance Foundation within the UK in 2024, the place they beat the likes of Everton FC & Aston Villa, can even be a part of the travelling groups to Japan. Ahead of the journey, their youth crew head coach Praveen Kumar stated, ‘The Japanese youth soccer system is correctly structured. We went to the UK final time and had gamers like Pramveer and Md. Suhail, who was a part of the squad at the moment, had an important studying alternative. Reliance Foundation is bridging the hole between youth soccer and senior stage by means of competitions and publicity excursions like this, and I believe we’re going to have problem and studying alternative in opposition to tactically and technically sound groups in Japan.’
Over the previous few years, the Indian groups from RFDL have competed in opposition to a few of England’s main youth groups. The Japan tour presents the following step in increasing these world studying alternatives, permitting India’s greatest younger expertise to benchmark themselves in opposition to one in every of Asia’s main soccer nations.
Recognising that participant improvement goes hand in hand with coach improvement, the programme additionally features a devoted three-day coach schooling module for six coaches from the collaborating golf equipment at Avispa Fukuoka. The curriculum will embody periods on Individual Development Plans, participant development and high-performance environments, alongside interactions with the Football Director of FC Machida Zelvia, whose membership has risen from the J2 League to the AFC Champions League Elite Final in simply three years.
Beyond soccer, the delegation will take part in cultural visits to the Nagasaki Peace Stadium, Atomic Bomb Museum and Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine, reflecting Reliance Foundation’s holistic method to participant and coach improvement.
The Japan publicity tour additional strengthens the Reliance Foundation Development League’s function in shaping the way forward for Indian soccer. As a part of a holistic improvement pathway, the league combines high-quality home competitors with worldwide publicity and coach schooling, equipping younger gamers and coaches with world greatest practices.
Japan’s sustained success in youth soccer makes it a really perfect benchmark, serving to put together the following technology to compete on the highest ranges. (ANI)