Universal Soccer School: Living the dream
Seven years ago, on December 13 at 3 AM, Olympian Rahman, from his hospital bed, called his assistant coach Deepak C M and said in a fainted voice, “It is my dream. It is my passion. Take care of it for the development of football and build a platform for our youth.” After this incident, he went into coma and died two days later.
Seven years went past, four of his students are still keeping up the late Olympian’s dream and passion – Universal Soccer School – as a homage to the legend of Indian football. This football academy, aimed at educating and training youth in football, has contributed continually to Kerala football by changing the players into true professionals and fitting them into the challenges of the game in the modern times.
When started with a few enthusiastic players on April 16, 1996, Olympian Rahman’s aim was to boost and provide a platform for the talented, football-loving youth in the region. Now, the academy is one of the major contributors of players to the national and state leagues. There are several young talents who are playing in the I league and second division clubs, Viva Kerala, Mahindra United, Josco FC, Malabar United, etc. Moreover, there are flocks of players in district-level teams and state Santosh Trophy training camps selected from the academy.
“Apart from other training camps, we use state-of-art training facility, combining theory and practical classes,” says Deepak C M. “The biggest achievement I see is that when we started we were only training seniors. Now, there are different age groups practising under us.”
Beyond training, the academy sends students to various tourneys in different parts of India. The soccer team of the academy won last year’s National Futsal Competition. They beat Kolkata team in their home ground to grab the title.
“As Rahman Sir always says ‘I want to show my Olympian team mates and my fans how good my children are’. and as he wished we became champions in his own ground (Mohun Bagan in Kolkata) in front of Chunni Goswami and other legends in football. We actually felt Rahman Sir smiling and blessing us from the sky,” he reminisced.
Speaking about training methods, he said, “We brought many books and CDs from foreign countries. As the competition was a new one, we trained diligently and as a result we won the competition. There were about 150 teams in the preliminaries and 36 teams in the finals.” he said.
The training during camps are totally different from the usual football camps, claims Deepak.
“Theory classes are something unavoidable in football training. Most of the camps usually do not follow this. This will be a major set back in the long run,” he explained.
“Apart from techniques in football, we concentrate on inter-player relationships. High importance is given to good behaviour on the field and outside.” says Deepak. Overall we are looking forward for developing the personality of a player to get its full concentration and energy on the field, he added.
The camp comprises of behaviour skills, communication skills, psychometric skills, closed camp teachings on football laws and all the other parts of game, he said.
Before talent hunts, we usually conduct classes for parents to convince them about the future in football and to avail maximum support for players to concentrate fully on the training, he said.
Explaining that the academy’s main aim is to give experience in the game for players, Deepak said, “We are not for playing for the championship here in the District A Division. We want to give the players a platform for their career. Also, these players are playing without any remuneration and this shows their commitment level,” he pointed out.
Every success is earned and comes with hard work. “There were several hard times for our academy. We were using Malabar Christian College ground for our practise sessions. When there was some renovation work in the ground, we had to move out and because of less funds, we had to go to beach and practise,” he reminisced. Now with the help of sponsors, we do not have such problems, he relieved.
Deepak claims that this is the first football academy built for children. “This is the first camp started for the kids in Kozhikode. We have worked a lot to start the camp for the kids. The training is completely different from that of seniors.”
There is one batch each for the students below 9 years and 14 years. “This year when we started summer camp about 700 students came to participate the screening test. Sadly we had only 70 slots available,” he noted. There is also a monsoon camp, which starts from July onwards, he said.
The pioneers of the academy are Harris Rahman, son of the Olympian, Ajith Raj, Renjith P C, Deepak C M and Ranjith.P.C, secretary of the Universal Soccer School. There was one more ardent follower of football, Ahmed Basheer, who went to pursue his career abroad. “Though he went away, he is still contributing to the academy by sponsoring,” Deepak said. The players who are trained in the academy and now playing in I league are Shahinlal Meloly, Sharath, P Rahul, Noushad and Basith. Basith was in the Kerala team for Santosh trophy.
Kevin Kishore for FootballKerala.com
November 20th, 2009 at 4:10 pm
This is indeed a great thing to hear for football loving keralites. But it may be a good idea to field a team in the district league for the players to get a feel of competitive football, it shouldn’t end up like the football friend coaching center where there was no real goal for the players.
November 20th, 2009 at 5:11 pm
been hearing about Universal for a long time now. but they caught my attention after they won the futsal tournament.
it always interesting to hear CM deepak speak about training.
great write up
November 20th, 2009 at 6:16 pm
I think Universal has senior team in Kozhikode First Division.
November 20th, 2009 at 7:14 pm
The Kozhikode District League is divided into two groups of six teams each. And, the top two from each group move into the semifinals.
In 2008, Universal Soccer School (USS) played five matches winning two and drawing two including a draw against KTC the eventual finalists. They scored a total of thirteen goals and conceded seven. By virtue of ending up third in the group, they had to bow out.
In 2009, USS played five matches winning three and drawing one. The draw came against their nemesis KTC and were tied for second place with KTC in the group. They scored twelve and conceded two in the process. Despite an improved performance and a superior goal difference of 10 compared to KTC’s 7, USS had to be disappointed on the toss of a coin and KTC went through to the semifinals.
I cannot believe that “toss of a coin” still decides who qualifies…this can happen only in Kerala. On the same note, just to add some more oil, the Trivadrum Super Division was also decided on the toss of a coin!!! SBT and Titanium were level on points and despite a huge advantage on goal difference, SBT ran out of luck with the coin…and Titanium won the Super Division.
The next time I give a One-Ruppee coin to someone, I’ll think twice…never know when the toss of a coin can change our lives!!!
November 20th, 2009 at 10:28 pm
Jason,
why dont we collaborate and form a well wisher team for kerala football. Alot of us are kerala football enthusiasts living abroad who has sources to bring in investment etc. First we need to form a team of interesting people, discuss how to improve kerala football, the changes required etc. Then we can collaborate with media- online, kerala news papers and national dailies to publish articles and gain publicity. The fundamental change required is overhauling the present kerala football association management which is a blendid of a bunch of old weirdos who has no thought leadership, football ideas but enjoying positions and status similar to politicians.
November 21st, 2009 at 5:56 pm
Great Article .But very little about Universal which is considered as the Best in the country as they look in for all aspects of football and character development of a player.
November 22nd, 2009 at 7:19 pm
i take this space to give a message to Jayadeep Purushothaman……. USS is not “the football friend coaching center where there was no real goal for the players.” but u can have some great friends who will help u play at world standards…just call Mr.Deepak @09995883383 and make arrangement to see the camp… this might help u to change ur perspective towards USS.USS is the finest academy in calicut which produce disciplined and committed player towards the society and on the ground.this is not a point blank blow…i am writing this b’coz i was a part of USS..i know for what it stands for…….
November 23rd, 2009 at 3:14 pm
Great Article.Only Rehman Sir may be only peron who speaks about football in his last breath
November 26th, 2009 at 6:28 pm
Good article
March 10th, 2010 at 2:49 pm
Good work. But you people should field a team in the district league, aim for the state league, then I league.
September 30th, 2010 at 5:54 pm
universal soccer school is a best team
May 4th, 2011 at 4:30 pm
i love football very much.universal soccer school is the academy for learning football..iam a student of universal soccer school in the present.deepak sir is the good teacher for teaching football tricks and laws..and he is so raugh..in the case of punctuality,.thats all,bye
May 4th, 2011 at 10:45 pm
haris elathur is a good player,..in the uss.i like him very much..iam a student of uss in the present summer camp,..deepak sir said that, we should commit on football..through on that…the ball should come our on track..pray 4 that…
May 12th, 2011 at 11:04 am
I love football verymuch so i want to say about you. Realy you have a better way of approach to the child i like it….
June 1st, 2011 at 11:26 am
I am a student in universal soccer school.I like universal soccer school’s camp. This is an golden oppertunity to publish their talent on this stage? so don’t
miss it. so sir i wishing u for a success full accedamic year.
And Thatz all by me .ok bye
June 21st, 2011 at 5:38 pm
it is possible to join soccer academy in the age of 22
August 10th, 2011 at 7:38 pm
I am Ajmal, 18 y. old and i would like to join your acadamy. If you give me a chance i will prove my tallent. plz. sent reply to my phone-9288090781
October 24th, 2011 at 3:03 pm
Dear sir
would like to know contact details to enroll my child in your camp and he is passionte soccer
November 30th, 2011 at 3:06 pm
i want to join the academy.. so what should i do…? please inform me…
December 13th, 2011 at 8:30 pm
helo sir ,
my name is amjad . i am in subjunior this month.in all kerala mes school meet i got best forward place and also i got individual championship in all kerala ametuer meet . and also i am an professinal football player .i am in malappuram district.
thus ,i want to be join in your academy for more improoving my talents.plz take in your academy .and inform me in 9656999397 and 9496190926
by ,
AMJAD MOHAMMED.