Indian Super League (ISL) champions Bengaluru FC announced on Monday that its expansion of BFC Football Schools had reached Pune, in Maharashtra, where it will soon be functional in two new centres.

The new programme, which will be in association with Sports Excel, will be for boys and girls between eight and fourteen years of age at Vidya Bhavan School in Model Colony, Shivajinagar, and for girls between eight and sixteen years of age at The Bishop’s Co-Education School, Undri.

“We are delighted to tie up with Sports Excel because they are a brand that understands football coaching and professionalism. We saw a good turnout in Gujarat for our first BFC Schools centre outside Karnataka, and Pune was always on our radar. We want to give children in the golden age, the U8s, U10s and U12s, the opportunity to play football in a professional environment and a clear pathway to the Bengaluru FC youth academy. We’re looking to reach out to more schools within Pune, and hopefully also to other states in the future,” said club CEO Mandar Tamhane.

With 14 functional centres in Bengaluru and their recent tie-up with Sporthood taking their reach to over 35 centres in the city over the coming weeks, BFC schools had, earlier in June, announced their first venue outside Karnataka, with the Adani Shantigram centre in Gujarat.

“This association with Bengaluru FC schools is a big moment for us because as a club, this is one of the most successful one in India and one that has, in its short history, made a mark on Indian football. Our holistic approach teaches them how to become better individuals, and I believe that the coaches and curriculum from Bengaluru FC will be of much benefit to these children. Hopefully, some of them can get selected into the club’s academy in the future,” said Christanand Vase, Director of Sports Excel.

The programme will be monitored, and the progress of the players will be tracked by the Technical Head of BFC Soccer Schools and Grassroots Development, John Kenneth Raj, who will also be providing the technical curriculum and structure and will also be tasked with educating the coaches of Sports Excel.