Jerry, Zola visit Liverpool FC Academy

Two Indian internationals are visiting the Liverpool Football Club's (LFC) Academy and Melwood training ground this week as a reward for their hard work and achievements at the LFC International Academy in Maharashtra.

Jerry Mawihmingthanga and Lallianzuala Chhangte (Zola) have been invited to Liverpool to take part in a week-long coaching programme at the LFC Academy in Kirkby, making them the first ever players from the LFC International Academy - DSK Shivajians to ever be awarded the chance.

The first stop on the experience was Melwood where Zola and Jerry got the chance to meet first team players James Milner and Phillipe Coutinho, to pick up some tips and words of encouragement before observing a first team training session led by manager Jürgen Klopp.

The two players, who have been with the LFC-DSK Academy for around two years, have performed impressively for both the academy and the India national youth and senior teams.

Zola recently became LFC-DSK's first ever player to play for the Indian senior team, making history for not only being the nation's youngest ever debutant but also youngest ever goal-scorer.

"It is heart-warming to see that we have players from India who have been invited on merit to train at the Liverpool FC Academy, something which has been a part of our vision for the academy since its inception," DSK Group executive director Shirish Kulkarni said on Tuesday.

"Certainly, this opportunity will lay down the pathway for Indian football to follow in the coming years. It will also go a long way in establishing Liverpool FC International Academy - DSK Shivajians as the Centre of Excellence for footballers in India," he said.

"On behalf of the DSK Group, I would like to wish Lallianzuala (Zola) and Mawihmingthanga (Jerry) a successful outing."

The LFC-DSK Academy is the first Premier League club branded residential academy in India. Launched in 2014, the academy is currently home to 64 young talents across Under-19 and U-17 categories, all receiving access to world-class infrastructure, facilities and coaching from Liverpool FC coaches who are based in India full-time.