Mumbai lads off to Queens Park Rangers

What is common between steel tycoon Lakshmi Mittal, Shaun Fernandes and Hussain Vahanvaty?

Billionaire Mittal is a part owner of first division English club Queens Park Rangers where these two Mumbai lads will go for six weeks of training.

In a pool of over 200 players from the city, Vahanvaty, for his impressive midfield skills and Fernandes, an athletically built defender, stood out from the lot.

Both 13-year-olds will get an opportunity to train with their counterparts at the QPR. “If they are good enough they may even get an opportunity to represent the club in the future,” academy coach Stephen Gallen said.

Ishan Saksena, CEO of QPR academy, said the club’s intent is to unearth talent from places where it is least expected from.
Expectedly, both teenagers were excited about the opportunity. Fernandes and Vahanvaty are in eighth standard and study in St Paul’s HS and St Mary’s HS, respectively.

“I think the attention to details in their training will make a huge difference in my game,” said an articulate Vahanvaty. Shaun appeared overwhelmed and all he could say was that he wanted this stint to help him don Indian colours.

But this isn’t their first taste of international exposure. While Shaun had been to Barcelona for a youth programme by his club Kenkre FC, this will be Vahanvaty’s second trip to London. He had previously been there for a 10-day training programme with an academy through his club PIFA.

Both have represented Maharashtra for under-13 and will leave today for the Maharashtra U-14 cap. Vahanvaty has also donned national colours for U-13 category and Mahindra United have made an approach for the Lionel Messi fan.