Srinagar, July 7: The ongoing football promotional campaign of J&K Bank received a shot in the arm when Scott O’Donell, Director of Academies All India Football Federation (AIFF), held a marathon training session for the newly formed JK Bank Football Academy talent pool and the J&K Bank football players, Bank coaches Hilal Parray and Manzoor Ahmed here at Kashmir University Grounds.
 Earlier J&K Bank’s Sports Board officials had approached O’Donell, who is currently on a visit to Srinagar, with a request to share his experience and expertise with the J&K Bank players and talent group. Chairman J&K Sports Board, Tafazal Hussain and Secretary Mohammad Amin Khan were also present on the occasion.
 Tafazal later held a separate meeting with O’Donell and discussed about necessary steps for making J&K Bank’s football academics a success.
 Stating that the top officials of the Bank’s Sports Board are very committed and determined towards the development of the game, he said “I am very impressed by the way the Bank Management is showing respect and concern for the promotion of football and the best thing is they understand the ethics of the game. Tafazal is keen to depute J&K Bank’s young talent to our academics for coaching. We will extend all possible support to J&K Bank Sports Board in this regard” he said.
 “I am looking forward to organize a meeting of J&K Bank Sports Board Chairman with AIFF officials soon”, he added.
 This is for the first time in the history of J&K Bank football that such a high level international official has been invited for interaction with the local players.
 Tafazal Hussain thanked O’Donell for accepting Bank’s invitation and for sparing his precious time out of his busy schedule. “We will continue to organize such interactive session for the players to increase their knowledge and improve their level of skills and performance” he said.
 O’Donell while lauding the efforts of the bank for promotion of football said, “It’s great that J&K Bank is doing so much for football in J&K.”
 Scott O’Donell, Technical Director of AIFF Academics is an international footballer who has played for Australia. An AIFF Academy Instructor, he is presently Incharge of four regional AIFF academies in India based at Mumbai, Bangaluru, Kalyani and Delhi. He is also FIFA coaching instructor and former Director of Coach Education, Asian Football Confederation.

Lastupdate on : Sat, 7 Jul 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 7 Jul 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 8 Jul 2012 00:00:00 IST