Gareth Wynn Owen Unveils India-Spain Grassroots Football Jersey In Hyderabad

Gareth Wynn Owen, the British Deputy High Commissioner for Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, unveiled the official jersey of the upcoming India–Spain International Grassroots Football Development Programme in Hyderabad on Tuesday. The international initiative is designed to strengthen grassroots football development in India, placing a special focus on Under-14 young athletes.

The jersey launch took place in the presence of Mohammad Shamsuddin, Chief Executive Officer of Sports Village, and Mohammad Numan Shamsuddin, Director of Sports Village and Silver Stone Sports Academy. The initiative is being organised by Sports Village, Sports Village Europa, and Silver Stone Sports Academy to create a structured development pathway for talented young footballers and strengthen cooperation between Indian and Spanish football development systems.

The programme will provide young footballers in Hyderabad with professional coaching and training based on internationally recognised Spanish football development methodology. Key areas of focus for the participants will include technical skills, football intelligence, discipline, teamwork, player development, talent identification, and motivational learning.

In addition, the initiative includes talent identification and player assessment. Promising young athletes identified through the scheme will receive an opportunity to be shortlisted for an advanced development pathway, opening potential avenues for future training and direct football exposure in Spain.

To reach a broad demographic, training sessions will be conducted in collaboration with international schools, government schools, and football clubs across Hyderabad. This framework aims to ensure that young players from diverse backgrounds can benefit directly from international football development practices.

As part of the initiative, Arturo Perez Garcia, a talented teenage footballer from Spain, will visit Hyderabad for two weeks beginning in the third week of October 2026. During his stay in the city, Garcia will conduct football training sessions, coaching clinics, seminars, and motivational programmes for the participating young athletes.