City Establish Indian Links

Last updated : 24 July 2011 By Covsupport News Service

Coventry City have established links in India.

The club have established a link with YFC Rurka Kalan and top Indian defender Anwar Ali is spending two weeks with the club, learning about the club, its Academy and commercial activities.

His visit has been arranged by Coventry City via its Asian Community Initiative, organised through the club's Associate Directors Jas Sandhu and Alan Malik.

Coventry City Vice Chairman John Clarke, said to the club website: "We are delighted to welcome Anwar Ali to Coventry City so he can see how a professional club operates in England.

"He's going to see the way the academy works and also see how we engage with all aspects of the community, whether that's through our soccer schools or our many other areas of community work.

"I know he is a big star in India and we are going to make him feel very welcome here in Coventry. We hope he enjoys his stay."

Alan Malik added: "Things have got off to a great start with CCFC Asia. In April this year, three sports scientists from Coventry University went to the Punjab to work with the YFC football academy.

"This gained national attention throughout the media over there and proved to be a great experience for both the players at YFC and the three students from Coventry University.

"We are now focusing on a five-year plan of annual visits to measure the impact of the advice from the sports scientists."

Locally, the project has been active and Jas Sandhu said: "Alan and I have been attending local Asian football events at the Alan Higgs centre, which have been attended by directors of the club too.

"We've also been to the Highwayman and a national football tournament in Coundon. The response has been phenomenal with engagement from the club and we will be attending similar events in the coming months."