[Archived] Rovers to Play in India - Pre-season

[John]

This type of thing should have been provisionally arranged months ago.

[Parsonblue]

I couldn't agree more John. I find it staggering that something that was talked about months ago still hasn't been sorted out. The players report back for training tomorrow and we are still trying to sort out pre-season games. Surely, this comes down to the management team rather than the owners. Pre-season is usually carefully mapped out months earlier not at the last minute.

[Kamy100]

Yet another example of the current situation behind the scenes at Ewood not being fully organised. People are absolutely right stuff like this needs to be nailed down months in advance, so that pre-season training can be tailored accordingly, I am all for marketing Rovers globally but this is all very unprofessional. First and foremost the focus should be on the playside of things, we are a football club not a marketing tool. Players return for pre-season training on Saturday and we are still finalising the programme.

[Paul]

..........and people wonder why I'm so sceptical. The club are planning an Indian tour in approximately 18 days and can't find anyone to play. Pune FC!! This is one of the funniest things I've heard in a long time.

This lot couldn't organise a p!ss up in a brewery let alone manage a football club.

Pune FC! LOL

[Mattyblue]

Pune FC is also an option to play it seems....East Benegal look likely to turn option down as they will be missing key players

Fair enough, we would want to play a full strength East Bengal for a proper test.

[philipl]

I can organise a side in India if Rovers want someone to have a kick about with.

[PAFELL]

Yet another example of the current situation behind the scenes at Ewood not being fully organised. People are absolutely right stuff like this needs to be nailed down months in advance, so that pre-season training can be tailored accordingly, I am all for marketing Rovers globally but this is all very unprofessional. First and foremost the focus should be on the playside of things, we are a football club not a marketing tool. Players return for pre-season training on Saturday and we are still finalising the programme.

Somebody rescue the club from these people - an absolute joke. Where are the protestors now that were wanting to protest during the season. Maybe time for voices of the supporters to be heard loud and clear. We need a national journo to put across the fustrations of the supporters in the media. Hopefully that will reach India. But there again if there is a friendly in India - imagine the mass protests over there that we could have - maybe why the lack of progress on arranging the friendly. They fear the invasion of the rovers barmy army.

brfc.co.uk needs its own fans paper.

[wellesbourne]

Surpised that no fixtures have been finalised. Think they must have been as i was informed by a colleague in March that Rovers were booked in the Le Meriden in Pune. Thought he was winding me up. Sods law i fly out to Mumbai a week too early as was trying to tie in a business trip to co-incide with this. S**t happens. Football in India is massive - but mainly on east coast around calcutta not so much on west coast - and this is a massive opportunity for further exposure for the club. Was out there in November and already they were getting interested.Rovers are already all over the papers out there. Not sure what the players will make of Pune however..........its pretty bleak.

[Blue n White Rover]

In Pune Blackburn Rovers are all set to give India the feel of Premier League football this month. Apart from playing an exhibition match against Federation Cup champions East Bengal at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai, the team will conduct a short training camp for children from Goa, Kolkata, Mumbai and Pune at Sports Complex, Balewadi on July 23.

"This will be the team's first visit to India after Venky's took over last October. "The initial plan was to take the team to eight Indian cities but it didn't work out due to the time constraint," said Venky's chairperson Anuradha Desai"

"The exhibition match was the last minute addition before the pre-season tour. It would make more sense if the team plays a friendly match apart from other promotional and training activities," she added.

Link

[den]

They better take plenty of Immodium.

[ABBEY]

Was thinking same den..can't see the point of risking illness and bugs.Everyone gets ill ïn my experience of Goa .The Mrs for example ended up getting treatment back in blighty.

[den]

I understand why rovers are going there, but for getting a good start to their fitness programme, it isn't a very good idea.

[rog of the rovers]

Negative, negative, negative. Change the record guys!

Worst kept secret since Venky's took over was an Indian tour of some kind.

Anything that helps boost the profile of the club abroad is great in my view and India is a logical stop over en route to the Asia Trophy in Hong Kong.

I also always like it when football clubs give back to communities both here and abroad, what an opportunity for those children in Mumbai to see the players up close and even get a days coaching.

[den]

Good post Rog. Totally misses the conversation though.

[BuckyRover]

Good post Rog. Totally misses the conversation though.

The other year, Man Utd played a tournament in Japan mid

season and went on to win the league and get to the CL final.

Do you think you might be being dramatic again?

[Baz]

"The initial plan was to take the team to eight Indian cities but it didn't work out due to the time constraint," said Venky's chairperson Anuradha Desai"

8 cities? What a joke.

[ABBEY]

The other year, Man Utd played a tournament in Japan mid

season and went on to win the league and get to the CL final.

Do you think you might be being dramatic again?

the hygene level is better in Japan than India?

Thing is rog it makes me laugh .They Wilk be moaning they are tired after all there travelling bless em.

[den]

The other year, Man Utd played a tournament in Japan mid

season and went on to win the league and get to the CL final.

Do you think you might be being dramatic again?

Japan?

What are you talking about Japan for Bucky?

Your support for Mrs D and Kean muddling your mind?

[ABBEY]

No he's confused bless him he's thinking Japan south of candolim and north of Bombay.

[Hughesy]

4 City tour of India

Looks like there is an U16 tournament to find young players in 4 cities (Goa, Kolkata, Mumbai and Pune), and we will split teams between kids and include senior players with the final 8 teams.

The scouts will attend and the best 2 indian kids will be invited for 2 weeks training at Brockhall

Link 2

Sound like owners who are about to sell us??

Announcing the tournament details, B. Balaji Rao, Whole Time Director, Venkateshwara Hatcheries Group (Venky’s), said, “The Company is committed to elevating footballing standards in India. This event is an attempt to develop football at the grassroot levels and create opportunities for young Indian footballers.

We firmly believe that given the right training and opportunity, it is a matter of time before the next Rover’s star will come from India. Exposing youngsters to the first team of Blackburn Rovers Football Club is merely a first step in this direction. The company has larger plans which it will disclose very shortly.”

[rog of the rovers]

4 City tour of India

Looks like there is an U16 tournament to find young players in 4 cities (Goa, Kolkata, Mumbai and Pune), and we will split teams between kids and include senior players with the final 8 teams.

The scouts will attend and the best 2 indian kids will be invited for 2 weeks training at Brockhall

Link 2

Sound like owners who are about to sell us??

Announcing the tournament details, B. Balaji Rao, Whole Time Director, Venkateshwara Hatcheries Group (Venky’s), said, “The Company is committed to elevating footballing standards in India. This event is an attempt to develop football at the grassroot levels and create opportunities for young Indian footballers.

We firmly believe that given the right training and opportunity, it is a matter of time before the next Rover’s star will come from India. Exposing youngsters to the first team of Blackburn Rovers Football Club is merely a first step in this direction. The company has larger plans which it will disclose very shortly.”

What an opporunity for those lads! Wish I was U-16 and playing football in India.

This tournament will surely do wonders for the clubs reputation in India.

[budha]

Link 2

Sound like owners who are about to sell us??

Announcing the tournament details, B. Balaji Rao, Whole Time Director, Venkateshwara Hatcheries Group (Venky’s), said, “The Company is committed to elevating footballing standards in India. This event is an attempt to develop football at the grassroot levels and create opportunities for young Indian footballers.

We firmly believe that given the right training and opportunity, it is a matter of time before the next Rover’s star will come from India. Exposing youngsters to the first team of Blackburn Rovers Football Club is merely a first step in this direction. The company has larger plans which it will disclose very shortly.”

Sounds quite the opposite to me. But, what do I know?

[Hughesy]

Another article about the competition & Rovers

"Youth following works both ways. One way of developing footballing standards is by gathering mass following for Blackburn Rovers in India. Following leads to aspirations and elevation of standards, and we want to make Rovers popular in India. It is our appeal to the Indian youth to come forward and reach out to Blackburn Rovers team and aspire to play alongside them very soon," Rao said.

The more they talk, the less likely a sale sounds to me.....

[wellesbourne]

Another article about the competition & Rovers

"Youth following works both ways. One way of developing footballing standards is by gathering mass following for Blackburn Rovers in India. Following leads to aspirations and elevation of standards, and we want to make Rovers popular in India. It is our appeal to the Indian youth to come forward and reach out to Blackburn Rovers team and aspire to play alongside them very soon," Rao said.

The more they talk, the less likely a sale sounds to me.....

One things the Indians arent is quitters. They can see the long game and if they quit Ewoood this year i will show my arse from the Walker Steel roof. No chance. Forget it.

[John]

Not sure of the answer, and obviously a smaller scale, however didn't they have a previous business venture which they decided to pull?