Dear Sir,
ARA FC aims to promote and develop football in Gujarat, says Vikram Patel
Intro ARA FC becomes first professional football team of Gujarat.
ARA FC became first team from Gujarat to get All India Football Federation’s licence to participate in the second division of I-League. ARA director Vikram Patel called it a historic moment which will give fillip to the development of the football in the region. Vikram Patel along with his brothers Krinesh and Prathamesh founded ARA FC in 2016 to promote and develop the beautiful game in the region.
FIRST PRO TEAM FROM GUJARAT
It is a proud moment for us and football fraternity here in Gujarat. We are excited and feeling positive about it. It will be a platform to all those who dream to play professional football in future. Being the professional outfit, this will give young aspiring professionals of Gujarat to display their talent. We are thankful to Gujarat State Football Association and Ahmedabad District Football Association for their support.
EXPECTATIONS
First couple of years are going to be learning phase where our Gujarat-based players will learn tricks of national competition. It is going to be big as all those players who will perform will attract ISL scouting eyes. This will be ideal platform for youngsters to launch themselves on national circuit.
FUTURE
We have Hero Junior I-League teams (u-18, u-15, u-13). We will nurture them and get future players. Moreover we are going to come up with Residential Academy where players will get high performance training of international standards. We have high hopes.
WHAT FOR PLAYERS
Besides getting paid, players who will perform extraordinary will certainly get attention from ISL teams.
Vivek Nagul, who has been associated with Pune FC and Chennayin FC in past, has been named Head Coach.
TEAM SELECTION
The selection process has started. We will be selecting 30 players. We shall have 20 local Gujarat players and 10 outside which may be national and international. The process will end by end of next week. Last week we had selection trials where more than 250 turned up across Gujarat.
TEAM FORMATION
Competition at the national level is high. It is survival Of the finest. So we will be requiring a few from outside Gujarat. We are in touch with few Academies and players at national level. Probably it will be 16 team event including reserve teams of ISL. So the competition is gonna be high.
FORMAT AND SCHEDULE
We are yet to get the final schedule as AIFF is yet to finalise teams. Probably there will be 16 teams divided equally into two pools. So should play seven home and seven away marches. We will play our home matches at Adani Shantigram’s football ground.
Also present was Philip Job, treasurer Gujarat State Football Association. He congratulated ARA FC and extended full support on behalf of the state body.
BOOST TO FOOTBALL
I know ARA from growing days. ARA has taken a big step and big boost to football. To be part of second division the team had to be among the top teams of the state. And ARA has won quite a few tournaments including the ADFA League. ARA will put Gujarat on national circuit and it’s proud moment for all of us.
FULL SUPPORT
GSFA and ARA will certainly work together. This will also encourage the association to host big tournaments and provide opportunities to young footballers.
