The Capital’s Indian Super league’s outfit was named Delhi Dynamos with a tagline of Thok Denge and the team also announced a strategic alliance with Dutch club Feyenoord Rotterdam on Thursday.
Feyenoord, one of the most successful clubs to have played in each Dutch top-tier tournament - Eredivisie and the first from the country to win the European Cup (currently known as the UEFA Champions league) in 1970, will provide technical assistance to the Dynamos.
Besides sharing its deep knowledge in selecting the team and the support staff, the Dutch club will also monitor the grassroot programmes of the Delhi franchise.
Announcing the launch of the team for the upcoming Indian Super league, Chairman and Managing Director of DEN Networks, Sameer Manchanda said, “Football is the world’s biggest sport and is now set to become India’s leading sport. We hope the Delhi Dynamos will inject pride and passion to all Delhiites and football fans of the region,” he said.
“With Feyenoord Rotterdam, we look forward to building a team of world-class players who can inspire with their skills and represent our city’s hopes and aspirations. Our dream is to take India to the global football stage and ultimately to the FIFA World Cup. They will assist us in overall development of the club and its initiatives.”
Manchanda, who said his team’s marquee player and the coaches will be announced within some days for the inaugural season of the ISl slated from September 18-December 7, further added, “it was a very good time for football in this country to grow. For the growth of the game, every stakeholder have to come together and this time the game is receiving support from every quarters like the FIFA, AIFF and production houses and the other business houses. I am very happy with the development happening through this league.”
Feyenoord’s academy has been voted as the best academy for last five years in The Netherlands. According to the CIES Football Observatory, Feyenoord is the World No. 1 in Player Development for this year’s FIFA World Cup. Including The Netherlands’ skipper leading striker Robin Van Persie and defenders Bruno Martins Indi and Van de Brij, World Cup 2014 had 12 Feyenoord -trained players, the highest from any club globally.
“India has a big young population and we feel potential is enormous, here and ofcourse it is a big market. Our issue is to produce a good team. Our goal is to stay longer and help the league become successful,” Gido Vader, Head of International Relations, Feynoord Rotterdom, told reporters.