This academy wants the young to get fit with their feet. Here’s how…

Bengaluru: The South United Football Club (SUFC) recently inaugurated its residential academy, the Centre of Excellence, designed to empower young Indian footballers through elite training, academic excellence, and holistic development.

Spanning age groups U-13, U-15, and U-17, the academy offers a high-performance environment that provides a structured pathway to professional football, built on progressive training, holistic player development, and long-term growth, an official press statement says.

The residential academy will also utilise SUFC sponsor benefits to identify talent from children across the country, with lesser privileged backgrounds, and give them holistic training, education and nutrition.

The academy was inaugurated by Rizwan Arshad, MLA, representing Shivajinagar constituency in the presence of Sharan Parikh, Director at South United Football Club, Mohammed Rafik, CEO, South United Football Club, and Husein Dohadwalla Co-CEO, Crimson Education.

The residential academy features FIFA-standard football infrastructure, including 11-a-side, 6-a-side, and 3-a-side turfs, along with floodlit pitches to support evening training and matches.

Athlete recovery and conditioning are prioritized through a fully equipped gym, ice baths, steam rooms, a physiotherapy room, and an off-site swimming pool all managed by seasoned professionals, the release adds.

The academy also features a sports nutritionist-curated diet to ensure optimal nutrition for every player. Comprehensive medical and safety protocols are in place, including tie-ups with leading hospitals for emergency care, on-site first-aid facilities, and 24-hour CCTV surveillance managed by dedicated security personnel.

Winmore Academy, Jakkur, has partnered with South United Football Club to introduce an innovative educational support program for elite student-athletes,” said Husein Dohadwalla

Under this initiative, promising SUFC players will receive full education scholarships at Winmore, with a customized academic calendar and logistical support that enables seamless integration of high-performance training and scholastic achievement.

“Our approach is professional and personal,” added Indresh Nagarajan, Programme Head.

“Every training session, academic lesson, and mentoring moment is tailored to bring out the best in each athlete. The SUFC Residential Academy reflects our commitment to total player development to include mind, body, and spirit,” he added.

At the heart of SUFC’s coaching philosophy lies Optimized Performance Training (OPT), an advanced framework that combines technical skill development, tactical intelligence, physical conditioning, and mental resilience.

Players will receive position-specific coaching, regular performance assessments, and data-driven progress tracking, while also engaging with sports psychologists and injury-prevention experts to ensure comprehensive development, the release concludes.