Football Academy in Mumbai with a big vision.

5 November 2024

OSCAR’s Lakshya Football Academy scouts top talent in Mumbai.

Kumar Rathod, Programme Manager, OSCAR’s Lakshya Football Academy talks to UK volunteer Sam Hill

More info: kumar@oscar-foundation.org +91 9867576465 or aditya@oscar-foundation.org +91 9867829655

What is your role within the OSCAR Foundation and Lakshya Football Academy?

My personal journey has been entwined within the world of football. I have a passion for the sport and have dedicated myself to coaching and mentoring the next generation of football enthusiasts through my work with OSCAR. Our collective mission is clear – to use football as a tool for youth empowerment and positive societal change.

Why did OSCAR set up the OSCAR Lakshya Football Academy?

I grew up in a community with very little opportunity but at an early age I enrolled in the OSCAR Foundation, where my football journey began. OSCAR uses football to encourage children to stay in school and equip them with skills to make them resilient. Through our Football, Education and Young Leader programmes, we’ve empowered 15,000 children in low-income communities across India since 2010.

I am the Programme Manager of Lakshya FA. Lakshya is the senior performance section of OSCAR. Through Lakshya FA, players can access professional coaching and participation, enabling them to flourish and reach their potential. OSCAR has developed many talented players who now play for top clubs, including Mumbai City FC U17 and U19, Bengaluru FC U15 but some players need more opportunities to develop to the highest league. OSCAR set up Lakshya FA to enable boys and girls to compete at the highest level possible of the AIFF state youth league and MFA League.

What has Lakshya FA delivered so far?

Lakshya FA focuses on identifying talented young footballers from the OSCAR Foundation and scouting top players from schools and clubs, providing them with outstanding football coaching and holistic support. The project offers training sessions three times a week. To ensure our players improve their football techniques, we conduct football skill tests at the beginning and end of the year, with skills evaluations conducted quarterly. The programme offers players opportunities to participate in the Mumbai Football Association (MFA) Division or AIFF Youth League, increasing their chances of being scouted by professional football clubs or eventually the Indian national team.

What is the goal of OSCAR Lakshya FA?

“Lakshya” means “Goal”. Talented young football players of Mumbai, from all backgrounds, deserve the opportunity to compete in the district, state and top national competitions. We want to become the biggest grassroots development academy and send our best players to the top professional clubs across India. (I-League, ISL and national teams).

Kumar can you share some of Lakshya’s proudest moments to date?

We have a lot to be proud of. 6 Players are playing for Mumbai City FC, 2 players selected for Bengaluru FC, U15 boys team won the MFA 2nd division title, Lakshya Senior Men’s team qualified for the MFA First Division and competing in the Super Division, U13 boys’ team were runners-up in the MFA Division 1 League and qualified for Maharashtra State league. U17 girls’ team finished as runners-up in the MFA League and Qualified for Maharashtra State league. U15 boys’ team reached the quarter-finals. 2 girls and 1 boy played for the Maharashtra State sub junior league from WIFA.

For more information:

kumar@oscar-foundation.org +91 9867576465

aditya@oscar-foundation.org +91 9867829655