BIRMINGHAM, UK: The Next Generation Cup 2024 campaign began with Indian clubs Punjab FC and Muthoot FA giving a tough run to their opponents Aston Villa FC and Everton FC respectively. The Toffees had to wait till the second half to find a way past a disciplined Muthoot FA team for their 1-0 victory. On the other hand, Reliance Foundation Development League (RFDL) 2023-24 champions Punjab FC put up an impressive fight before going down 3-2 in front of Aston Villa FC on the opening day of the tournament.

The two games were arguably of stark contrast, with there being a fair bit of flair in the Punjab FC encounter, thanks to the two teams constantly going back and forth against each other. Muthoot FA’s style of play drew praise from Everton FC coach and ex-England player Leighton Baines as well. Here’s a brief rundown of the concerned fixtures. 

Muthoot FA vs Everton FC

Muthoot FA produced a fitting contest against Everton with the Toffees scoring the only goal of the match in the 34th minute.

The third-place winners of the Reliance Foundation Development League (RFDL) 2023-24 were neatly organized at the back and didn’t offer their Premier League opponents many clear-cut goal-scoring opportunities in the opening half of the contest.

Eventually, it took a concerted team effort on their behalf to break through the Muthoot FA backline.

Jacob Beaumont-Clark pierced through the defense of the Indian side with a dazzling run through the center. He released the ball to an onrushing Callum Bales on the right flank.

Bales received the ball with a deft first touch, before setting up Kean Wren with a squared-up pass that the latter comfortably tapped in to break the deadlock after a gripping passage of play.

“It was a tough game. It was a different challenge for our lads to play against well-organised opponents. I am hoping that they learn something from it and it came across as a big challenge for us. Muthoot FA came in with a clear idea of how they might get success out of this game. They’ve got a good idea of when they have the ball, and what they would want to do in those moments. We don’t always get to practice in such situations, which is good for our lads and for the overall development of players,” Everton FC coach Leighton Baines said after the game.

Brief Scores

Everton FC 1 (Kean Wren 34’) – 0 Muthoot FA

Punjab FC vs Aston Villa FC

Aston Villa FC triumphed over Punjab FC by 3-2 in a closely contested game, with the English outfit taking the lead through their forward Rory Wilson in the 12th minute of the match.

In a template that was visible throughout the encounter, both sides ensured that they didn’t allow their opponents ample space to work with the ball outside of the 18-yard box.

It resulted in an overcrowding of the penalty area, but players from the two ends delivered a high-scoring clash.

Wilson complemented his opening goal with another strike in the 33rd minute, with almost identical goals coming as a result of his ability to put the ball into the back of the net from close spaces.

But before that, Omang Dodum from Punjab FC equalized the scores in the 22nd minute, collecting a ball on the run in the left flank and depositing it past Aston Villa FC goalkeeper Sam Lewis. Travis Patterson and Mason Cotcher joined hands at the 40th-minute mark to add another goal to Aston Villa FC’s tally.

Patterson’s cross from the left flank was perfectly met and converted by Cotcher to get the scores to 3-1 up. However, Punjab FC struck quickly on the counter, with No. 10 Manglenthang Kipgen striking from a few yards away from the left flank a minute later to cut the deficit.

Eventually, Aston Villa FC held their nerves until the end to secure the win.

“We need to focus more on tactical decisions. We were intact for large portions but lost concentration for a bit and conceded the easiest of goals. We were having a good run of chances, but couldn’t capitalize on that and an unwanted error resulted in us going 1-0 down. The players are high on confidence but we need to address a bit in the execution part of things. We are lacking a bit of instinct and this is the best possible platform for us to work on things and learn a lot going forward,” Punjab FC coach Sankarlal Chakraborty said.

Brief Scores

Aston Villa FC 3 (Rory Wilson 12’ 33’, Mason Cotcher 40’) – 2 Punjab FC (Omang Dodum 22’, Manglenthang Kipgen 41’)

Schedule – August 2, 2024

Muthoot FA vs Crystal Palace FC – 2:30 PM IST

Aston Villa FC vs Stellenbosch FC – 2:30 PM IST

Everton FC vs East Bengal FC – 7:30 PM IST

Tottenham Hotspur FC vs Punjab FC – 7:30 PM IST

Where to Watch

The matches will be streamed live on the following platforms -:

Reliance Foundation Youth Sports: https://youtube.com/@RelianceFoundationYouthSports

Premier League: https://youtube.com/@premierleague

The post Everton FC Coach Leighton Baines on Competing Against Muthoot FA’s Tactical Brilliance appeared first on NRI News.

SOUTH AFRICA: The 2024 edition of the nationwide grassroots, Get Into Rugby (GIR) programme targeted at children aged six to 13 is officially underway and heads to the Free State province on Thursday, 18 July.

A festival event, two days before the world champions’ Test Match against Portugal in Bloemfontein, will take place to officially mark the return of the Engen-sponsored Get Into Rugby season.

The grassroots rugby initiative saw 244 788 boys and girls play the game across all nine provinces of the country in 2023, touching the lives of 114 281 boys and 130 507 girls, who might previously have never experienced organized sport, let alone rugby.

The program also offers young, aspirant rugby coaches, both male and female, an opportunity to develop their rugby coaching skills – a key aspect that aligns with Engen Sports’ values of creating a holistic platform for youth sport development.

Engen Brand & Sponsorship Manager, Tsholo Tiro, said that Engen was looking forward to another season of impacting and contributing to the growth of rugby in South Africa through the programme.

“The Engen Get Into Rugby program is quite important to Engen due to its unique ability to reach children at the grassroots level,” said Tiro.

“Over the years, sport has proven to be a fundamental aspect of the growth of children. As proud sponsors of this program, Engen takes pride in contributing to a unique platform that encourages not only sport development, but the holistic development of the children to ensure that rugby and society benefit from well-groomed future rugby players.”

The festival in Bloemfontein will be visited by Springbok players to add inspiration and impetus to the young players, while Rian Oberholzer, CEO of SA Rugby emphasized the importance of providing new experiences and opportunities to young people.

“The Get Into Rugby program has successfully introduced hundreds of thousands of children to rugby and sport over the many years and we’re grateful for Engen’s continued support,” said Oberholzer.

“This program is the first rung on a ladder that leads to our men’s and women’s Springbok teams. But, as much as that, it offers an opportunity to play organized sport for many children who would not ever have the chance to experience it.”

The post SA Rugby Engen Ready To Fuel Another 200k Young Players appeared first on NRI News.

Further exploring Fall’s juxtaposition of American classicism with a youthful, counter-cultural attitude, Winter 2024 brought time-tested, iconic pieces up-to-date and in real-world contexts, proposing a free-spirited sensibility where traditional concepts of dressing up and dressing down begin to mix and merge. Knitwear was a cornerstone of the collection, applied in argyle, cable-knit, and intarsia cardigans, sweaters, and leggings. Tailored tuxedo jackets and full skirts in tweed and taffeta played against plaid pants, boxer shorts, and T-shirts and sweaters emblazoned with the image of comic and cartoon character Popeye carrying the house’s iconic Tabby bag. The collection also featured a selection of leather outerwear, including bold statement jackets crafted in expressive colors such as metallic gold and pale blue.

“Our Winter collection is all about exploring the archetypes of the American fashion language and reinterpreting them for today’s generation,” said Vevers. “We’re designing for real people, who are not necessarily in a resort or on a cruise, but moving through the real world. One moment they might be bundled up against the cold, and the next they’re at a holiday party. It’s a spontaneous, carefree way of dressing.”

In Leathergoods, the Times Square Tabby, first introduced with the house’s Fall 2024 collection, is explored in a festive metallic finish. The Kisslock Frame bag, a new design inspired by an archival silhouette from 1969, appeared in metallic and Glovetanned leathers, as well as Signature knit iterations paired with an assortment of layered charms rooted in the iconic and playful visual language of New York City. Charms and jewelry included crystal pavé versions of the Statue of Liberty, taxi cabs, and mugs and teddy bears with the “I  NY” logo celebrating the city and state Coach call home.  

Reflecting the house’s commitment to reducing its impact on the planet by prototyping and learning through design, the collection included organic cotton T-shirts, repurposed denim trousers, and a series of silk taffeta dresses repurposed and reimagined as party skirts. Additionally, as part of Vevers’ vision of redefining craft through the lens of sustainability, the house continued to work with regenerative leather, brought to life on the runway as a classic leather bomber jacket.

To introduce the collection, Coach created a lookbook of individual and group portraits captured at Alder Manor, a historic Renaissance Revival mansion located in Yonkers, New York. The models in the lookbook were also featured in Fall’s street-cast show, which brought new faces to the Coach runway and community. Inspired by Vevers’ vision to redefine heritage as interpreted by today’s generation, this cast of characters brought a new vitality to the rarified setting, embodying a collection that feels perfectly imperfect and all its own. 

The post COACH INTRODUCES THE WINTER 2024 COLLECTION appeared first on NRI News.

Join us on a journey of self-discovery and fearless expression with Coach this summer.

Shop the collection here: https://www.coach.com/shop/women/collections/tabby

The post Coach Launches Summer Collection (Tie-Dye Range) appeared first on NRI News.

This exciting alliance marks a significant milestone in the company’s global expansion strategy and also aims to revolutionize the sports academy franchise landscape in India.

The Academy has delivered across 330 school avenues and 100 franchises across Australia. The key objective for its expansion in India is to provide young players with access to high-quality training and development opportunities by focusing on mental well-being.

With exceptional achievements in Australia, Sport Star Academy has rapidly emerged as a quality children’s sports programs academy for creating a movement of change for tomorrow’s grassroots leaders. Starting over from only one sport, Football Star Academy in 2010 to 12 sports in 2024, the journey has been commendable for the company.

Commenting on the business expansion, Peter Nikolakopoulos, Founder and CFE, of Sport Star Academy stated “As we expand Sport Star Academy into the vibrant and diverse market of India, we are not just bringing coaching expertise, we are igniting a passion for sports and fostering a culture of excellence within local communities. Our goal is to empower young players with the skills, confidence, and values they need to succeed, both on and off the field. Through Sports Star Academy in India, we aim to make a lasting impact, shaping future leaders and champions who will inspire generations to come”.

Gaurav Marya, Chairman, Franchise India Group also expressed the excitement of collaboration, saying “The sports business in India is rapidly expanding and represents the next great opportunity. Training is the first and most important phase in professional sports, and it should begin from an initial stage. If we want to develop Olympic athletes in the next 20 years, we must train them to begin playing at the age of 4-5 years. This alliance will result in a significant revolution in the sports business”.

The two companies are collectively set to drive growth in the sports industry with three key objectives: skill-based development, mental well-being and community building. By encouraging children and adolescents to engage in regular physical activity through organized sports programs, Sport Star Academy can contribute to reducing sedentary lifestyles and combating issues like childhood obesity.

Through its programs, Sport Star Academy aims to help young athletes in India build strong mental foundations, equipping them to navigate life’s challenges both on and off the field. By establishing sports programs in Indian communities, Sport Star Academy can contribute to community cohesion and foster a sense of belonging among participants which can lead to stronger social ties, increased civic engagement, and a more inclusive society.

The post Sport Star Academy Australia’s Leading Grassroots Academy Joins Forces With Franchise India For Business Expansion In India appeared first on NRI News.

PUNE: Starkenn Technologies has signed an MoU with Shree Swami Samarth Tours and Travels) for providing an ADAS system for their passenger fleet of multi-axle coaches.

The MoU was signed at a recent curtain raiser event held in Pune for Prawaas 4.0. Prawaas is a multi-modal transport show organized by the Bus and Car Operators Federation of India. Mr. Shashank Joshi, (Business Head) Starkenn Technologies Mr. Kiran Desai, (Owner) Shree Swami Samarth Tours and Travels, and (President) Pune Bus Owners Association were present during the signing of the MoU.

With products like BrakeSafe (Collision Mitigation System), Attention (Driver Monitoring System), and Stark- I ( Fleet Management Software) Starkenn has been providing driving safety solutions for commercial vehicles. These products meet all the requirements of Level- 2 ADAS.  The manufacturing is in Turbhe, Navi Mumbai, and the assembly is in Aundh, Pune. To date, Starkenn has installed its safety solutions in more than 2500 vehicles.

Shashank Joshi, Business Head Starkenn Technologies Pvt ltd, said that this partnership will help Shree Swami Samarth’s fleet by increasing safety on roads ensuring a safe driving ecosystem for fleets, drivers, and passengers while Starkenn will be able to increase awareness about ADAS and fleet management and gain trust of OEMs and the entire transport industry.

Some of the major challenges of adoption of ADAS in India have been cost, training, and compatibility which we have been able to understand and address and come out with ‘Made in India’ products to suit our conditions.

(As per market research conducted by CMI Market Research, the global India ADAS market is expected to record a CAGR of 18.80% from 2023 to 2032. By 2032, its market size is anticipated to reach US$ 9.98 billion from US$ 1.24 billion in 2022.)

The post Pune-Based Deep-Tech Startup ‘Starkenn’ Signs MoU For ADAS appeared first on NRI News.

“There is a lot to prove. We are two-time defending champions so that puts us under pressure to win the title again. But the boys are doing well and we are eagerly looking forward to the National Championships. Our success in the RFDL is all due to the focus that Bengaluru FC has placed on developing and promoting grassroots and youth football within the club,” Bengaluru FC coach Bibiano Fernandes said.

In the other games, Reliance Foundation Young Champs (RFYC) swept aside Chennaiyin FC by 3-1, with substitutes Raj Kumar Sanyasi and Shilajit Santra finding the back of the net for the former in the 65th and 97th minute of the game respectively.

Midfielder Harsh Palande scored in the 89th minute, whereas the Marina Machans had only Roshan Labuktongbam netting for them in the 80th minute of the match. 

Kerala Blasters FC and Dempo SC played out a goalless draw in their Group A fixture in the National Group Stage at the Reliance Corporate Park in Navi Mumbai on April 24, Wednesday.

Both teams were unable to break the deadlock at the end of 90 minutes, with the game seeing three bookings. Muhammed Sanooth and Vibin Vidhu from Kerala Blasters FC and Pratik Naik from Dempo SC were shown the yellow card.

Next Day’s Schedule – (April 26)

Group C – University of Delhi Stadium, Delhi

• M1: NorthEast United FC vs Home Missions FC – 08:00 AM IST
• M2: Adamas United SA vs Delhi FC – 11:00 AM IST

Group D – Dhuler Football Stadium, Goa

• M1: Punjab FC vs Sudeva Delhi FC – 08:30 AM IST
• M2: Mumbai City FC vs Pax of Nagoa – 04:00 PM IST

The post Bengaluru FC’s Focus On Youth Football Is The Reason Behind Our Success In The RFDL: Coach Bibiano Fernandes appeared first on NRI News.

Discover the Coach’s Floral collection and encourage the courage to keep revolving. Explore the Floral collection and find the courage to embrace and reinvent yourself in a vibrant, boundary-breaking journey.

Experience Coach’s vibrant Floral collection and expresses your true colors fearlessly. Set in a virtual universe, the campaign introduces the Coach Spring collection within a story about finding the courage to discover what it means to be real in your way.

 Shop the Collection here:https://www.coach.com/shop/find-your-courage?collections=FLORAL&world=floral

SOCIAL MEDIA: @Coach; #CoachNY, #CourageToBeReal  

The post Coach Launches New Floral Collection For Spring 24′ appeared first on NRI News.

Practicing What They’ve Been Preaching

The IPL has changed the way the cricketing world views the game. It’s no longer just about winning games; it’s also about winning tournaments. This shift in focus has led to a new culture at all levels of the sport. Even if you look at the point spreads betting data, you’ll see a drastic improvement in player statistics. This success can be attributed to the IPL.

The IPL has helped bring in new ideas and strategies, and change the way teams approach their games. Coaches can now experiment with new ways to prepare their teams for matches while also using technology for analysis.

Additionally, the IPL has helped bring in different players, from seasoned veterans to young talent. This means there are more options available when looking for players who can thrive under pressure.

Improves the Player’s Game

The IPL has brought about a winning mentality in players and teams alike. The league is one of India’s most-watched sporting events. Its popularity has contributed to an increase in the number of fans tuned in to watch their favorite team play.

In addition, the IPL has also helped improve the quality of play by introducing new rules. This has made it easier for players from different parts of the world to compete against each other. This has led to an improvement in overall skill levels across all teams playing in the league.

Coaching Is a Two-Way Street

The tournament, which started in 2008 and has now become the premier T20 league in the world, epitomizes the spirit of cricket and its values. It has brought about a winning mentality that has transcended national borders. The players and their coaches have been able to bring this philosophy home in their respective countries and inspire the people around them to aspire for more.

When you observe a player during training sessions, you can see how they react to different situations. For instance, if you were to watch a bowler bowling on a flat track without any wind at his back, he wouldn’t be able to generate much pace because there’s little to no resistance caused by the air. In such situations, it becomes very important for the coaches to help the players understand how to overcome these challenges by using different variations of their deliveries, thereby increasing their chances of success on such surfaces.

A Good Attitude Begets a Good Attitude

The IPL has encouraged a winning mentality, and it’s not just the players who have benefitted. The IPL has brought together fans from all over the world, creating a bond that transcends geographical boundaries.

The IPL has also helped cricketing nations to learn from each other. This has improved standards across the board, as players are now more willing to put in extra effort during training sessions and practices.

Conclusion

The emergence of the IPL has raised the standard of cricket played in India. Indian players are now getting a chance to play with better cricketers who better understand how to present themselves on the big stage. This is only the beginning, and the growth of the IPL looks set to continue.

Photo by Harsadh Kumar on Unsplash

The post How Has the IPL Brought About a Winning Mentality? appeared first on NRI News.

INDIA: FC Barcelona coach Xavi Hernández has announced that he will leave the club at the end of the current season. The Blaugrana boss made the statement in the post-game press conference at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys following the dramatic 5-3 defeat against Villarreal CF on Saturday night.

Xavi: ‘I want to be a solution for Barça’

Once the game was over, coach Xavi Hernández told club president Joan Laporta, vice-president Rafa Yuste, and Sporting Director Deco of his decision to leave his post as first-team coach at the end of the season. “I had taken days ago but today was the moment to announce it,” he said.

Xavi reiterated that one of his main motives was his love for the club: “I don’t want to be a problem. I want to be a solution for Barça as I was two years ago.” A Barça legend as a player, Xavi knows FC Barcelona better than anyone and is convinced that the team need now “a change in direction.”

Xavi said that his departure at the end of the season “takes the tension out of the situation and gives the dressing room, the staff, and the club a bit of room to change the dynamic.“

Nevertheless, there are four months to go until the end of the season and the Catalan coach made it clear that he still has the energy to fight for silverware this season: “In these four months I will give everything. I’ll try to give my all to try and win the league. I still think we can do it.” He confessed that even if the team does win a trophy, “the decision is made and it can’t be changed.”

The post Xavi announces he will step down as FC Barcelona coach at the end of the season appeared first on NRI News.