Liverpool FC Foundation discusses community football initiatives in Telangana

The Liverpool FC Foundation has explored potential collaboration with the Sports Authority of Telangana to expand community football and sports-led social development. A round-table meeting in Hyderabad brought together football clubs, corporate representatives, foundations, former India internationals and senior officials

Hyderabad: Colin Contini, head of operations at the Liverpool Football Club (LFC) Foundation, visited the Gachibowli Sports Complex here on Monday at the invitation of the Sports Authority of Telangana (SATG).

As part of the visit, SATG hosted a round-table meeting chaired by its vice-chairman and managing director, Dr A Sonibala Devi, to identify areas of collaboration with the LFC Foundation to expand community football and use sport as a tool for social development across Telangana.

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The meeting brought together a wide range of stakeholders, including owners and representatives of football clubs in the State, representatives of various foundations, corporate representatives interested in directing corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds towards sport, and senior SATG officials.

Former India internationals Victor Amalraj and Shabbir Ali also participated in the meeting and shared their insights on developing football at the grassroots level.

During the meeting, Contini said the Foundation organised programmes across seven areas of impact: inclusion; sport and physical activity; health and well-being; education and life skills; employability and training; youth intervention; and community engagement.

“It delivers close to 200 sessions every week for young people and families and works with dozens of schools across the Liverpool City Region. Its international work, delivered in partnership with Right To Play, reaches vulnerable children through programmes in countries such as Thailand, Senegal and Tanzania,” Contini said.

Contini appreciated SATG’s efforts to develop football and strengthen grassroots participation in Telangana. He expressed interest in exploring collaboration with SATG on community football, inclusion and sports-for-development programmes, drawing on the LFC Foundation’s experience.

Dr Sonibala Devi said Telangana had strong football traditions and considerable young talent.

“The LFC Foundation’s experience in using football to change lives in communities is something we can learn from. Today’s round table is a first step towards a partnership that brings together government, clubs, CSR partners and former players to take community football to every corner of the State,” she said.

The meeting concluded with participants agreeing to identify specific areas of collaboration and work towards a framework for future engagement between SATG and the LFC Foundation.