AC Milan arrives in Sri Lanka; dreams come true
While football in Sri Lanka is struggling to find its feet, the good news is that AC Milan has made a quiet but firm entry to the island. From news items in the public domain, this historic entry has been orchestrated by Colombo Athletic and Football Club (CA&FC), the brainchild of Ajai Vir Singh, better known for his pioneering work in the fashion industry under the Colombo Fashion Week (CFW) banner.
Securing this franchise partnership with AC Milan to run an academy which will comprise of a well-structured curriculum which includes overall skill development as well as Nutrition and Sports Psychology, reinforces the claim that it is important to be a good athlete before one becomes an outstanding sportsman.
Fouzul Hameed (L) and Trevor Reckerman
Supporting Singh are two remarkable twin strikers, Trevor Reckerman and Fouzul Hameed. Reckerman was an exceptional footballer in his days who made a worthy contribution as an accomplished sports administrator; notably his role as General Secretary of Football Federation of Sri Lanka. It is his well-known marketing acumen that brought many of the commercial partnerships into the realm of Sri Lanka football.
Hameed, as many are aware, was also a football linchpin having represented Zahira College in his heyday. Of course his claim to fame stems from his stewardship of the fashion house Hameedias, which he leads as Managing Director and the many sports he has liberally promoted.
Singh, Reckerman and Hameed’s foray into a club and academy in Colombo together with the esteemed partnership with AC Milan, is the culmination of a passion that transcends sport in general and football in particular. For long, contemplating the pathetic state of the game in the country, they felt the need to do something worthwhile, to reverse the fortunes of the sport and give our young footballers the opportunity to perform on the world stage, via the renowned echelons of AC Milan.
Thus, those joining the academy at CA&FC will eventually have the opportunity to graduate to the academies run by AC Milan in Europe. From there, given the talent one has, a stepping stone to the best clubs in the world are at one’s feet. Dreams come true when you work at it. The CA&FC is a work-in-progress for those who are ready and willing to take that giant leap.