English Premier League outfit Leicester City's academy coach John Rudkin said the club is holding talks with the All India Football Federation to host a fortnight-long camp for India's under-17 team prior to their AFC championship campaign in Japan.
"Talks are on with the AIFF to organise a fortnight-long camp for these boys in our academy sometime this summer," Rudkin, who is in Kolkata to supervise the training and selection process of the India under-17 team at the SAI eastern region complex, said on Thursday.
Rudkin, the head coach of the Leicester City soccer academy, also has plans to prepare a detailed training format and structure for the Indian colts, scheduled to take part in the AFC age-group championship in Japan in September.
Though satisfied with the level of commitment and discipline of the Indian youngsters, Rudkin said they need better coaching and training facilities and age-group domestic tournaments in the country to grow up to their potential.
Rudkin's visit was an immediate outcome of the English club's recent three-year agreement with AIFF and East Bengal for cooperation on various sectors including youth development and coaching techniques.
The City academy coach was accompanied by India's chief coach Stephen Constantine and senior officials of AIFF. Rudkin is also scheduled to watch the crucial National Football League match between East Bengal and Vasco Sports Club, Goa, at the Salt Lake stadium later on Thursday.
Asked to point out the weaknesses of the Indian juniors, Rudkin said, "There are a lot of areas to improve upon. The game of soccer has become faster and the boys need to be stronger and tactically more sound to play at a high level.
"What is more important is the need for modern training and coaching."
In this regard, he said Indian soccer needs more trained and knowledgeable coaches to groom raw talent into good players.
Dwelling on the training pattern of the premier club, which in the past produced goalkeeping legends like Gordon Banks and Peter Shilton, as also lethal striker Gary Linekar, Rudkin said, "There are 124 boys in our academy who are trained by four full time and 12 part time coaches besides three physios - all having UEFA licenses."
The players, aged 16 and above, are put on youth contract with the club, he added.
The premier outfit had entered into the agreements last month when its Director and Chief Operating Officer Paul Mace visited Kolkata to sign agreements with East Bengal president Dr Pranab Dasgupta and AIFF secretary Alberto Colaco.
