Hero Indian Super League’s (Hero ISL) FC Goa and Bundesliga outfit RB Leipzig signed a three-year strategic partnership that will help both clubs garner opportunities in football and business spheres.
While the main focus of the partnership will be on youth development, the two clubs have also come together with the aim of growing the beautiful game, exchanging ideas and making footballing knowledge more easily accessible.
FC Goa President and co-owner, Akshay Tandon spoke of his delight with the new partnership and called Leipzig the ‘perfect partner’. “I am delighted to have RB Leipzig as our partners. They have shown the world of football how to build from the ground up and that’s something we resonate with. It is our first international partnership and in RB Leipzig, we have the perfect partner.
“Partnerships such as these validate our long-term vision that we have at the club. Our goal is to develop Indian footballers for the world stage and this partnership helps us create a visible pathway for all young aspiring footballers in India. We have a long way to go, but these steps help build a strong foundation for the future. This is a partnership that gives me even more belief in the direction we are headed.“
Meanwhile, RB Leipzig CEO, Oliver Mintzlaff believes that their partnership with Goa will help the German club make waves internationally. “We look forward to our partnership with FC Goa. The club, with its young, modern and innovative approach suits us perfectly. We want to break new ground with RB Leipzig and now we look to take our first steps internationally.
“The discussions with those responsible at FC Goa were very open, convincing and effective from the start. The emerging Indian market is therefore an absolutely suitable starting point for our future endeavours. And last but not least, such a partnership offers the opportunity to present the Bundesliga in the best possible way and to act as an ambassador.”
During the period of collaboration between the two clubs, coaches from RB Leipzig’s academy will be visiting Goa to impart knowledge via workshops. Similarly, FC Goa will be sending coaches and players from the club’s youth set-up for training and learning the intricacies of the game at RB Leipzig’s youth academy.
Furthermore, Goa and Leipzig won’t just be working together to help each other expand internationally, but also for the overall development of Indian football. The partnership will also witness both clubs launch a nationwide Soccer Camp programme. With the support of Leipzig, both FC Goa’s online and offline National Soccer Camps is set to make superior footballing skills and knowledge accessible to all football enthusiasts across the length and breadth of India.
