Former footballer Shabbir Ali launches academy in Hyderabad

Former India footballer Shabbir Ali will be the head coach of the academy. The academy will start on March 1.

Hyderabad: Football in Hyderabad has started to come into the limelight for all good reasons of late. With the arrival of Indian Super League (ISL) franchise Hyderabad FC as the city's only professional club in India's top division, Hyderabad's once-famous football culture seems to be hitting the right chord again.

As the Hyderabad FC's eye-catching performance in ISL 2020-21 continues to draw the attention of football fanatics, the city, which once had plenty of football nurseries, got a much-needed boost at the grassroots level with the crest launch of Shabbir Ali Football Academy, sobriquet SAFA, an academy named after Indian football legend Shabbir Ali.

A darling of Indian fans in the early 1970s to mid-1980s, Shabbir, who was known for his mesmerizing goal-scoring skills for the Indian national team, will lead the academy as its chief coach. The academy will begin its journey from March 1 at Play Max Sports Arena, Valley View Enclave, Near Sun City, Bandlaguda Jagri in Hyderabad.

It will be promoted and sponsored by MB Sports, an initiative by Mirza Wasim Baig, Mirza Najeeb Ali Baig and Syed Akbar Ali Abidi.

Jersey launch of the Shabbir Ali Football Academy.

"The academy intends to provide coaching to children of Grassroots, Sub Junior, Junior, Elite and Senior age groups," a press release from MB Sports stated.

The logo launching ceremony of the academy was graced by the attendance of luminaries of Hyderabad football.

Addressing the media, Dhyan Chand awardee coach Shabbir Ali, who took to coaching upon his retirement from football, said it was always better to start something afresh late, rather than giving up.

“It is a city of footballers in the past but unfortunately it is not now. We want to revive the game in the city. All these years I was waiting for an opportunity for a big ground and now I have got a chance to start it. It is a big challenge,’’ he said.

Victor Amalraj, another Indian star from Hyderabad of the 1980s, heaped praise on Shabbir and MB Sports for taking the initiative to start a football academy in the city.

“The city lacked an academy. Hopefully, under the guidance, the academy will revive the game in the city," Amalraj said.

Former India international Fareed said they were earnestly looking for a football academy in Hyderabad.

“Now it has come and Shabbir bhai has been given the charge. I was the last player from the city 40 years ago to represent a big club from the city. Hopefully new players will get an opportunity in future," Fareed said.

GP Palguna, secretary of Telangana Football Association, praised the effort of MB Sports and coach Shabbir Ali, who has the experience of managing top I-League sides such as Salgaocar FC and Mohammedan Sporting.

”It is good to see a new academy coming up in the city," Palguna said.

The academy promised to offer free coaching to the needy and underprivileged children to make football accessible to all.