Abhilash Eranna training with the U-17 team at IMG Soccer Academy
With recent spotlight on India’s 7’1” 14 year old basketball prodigy Satnam Singh, we have taken time to show that India’s youth are excelling in the game of soccer as well. Karan Padmukamar and Abhilash Eranna are not only both natives of India but they are also both elite competitors at IMG Soccer Academy. Padmakumar is a part of the U-15 club at IMG Academies, where he is coached by Tonio Paternostro. “Coach Tonio is a great coach, he truly sees all of the little things that other coaches oversee or don’t bother with. Even though I still have much to learn, he has already taken my game to another level” Padmukamar states. Eranna is on the U-17 squad at IMG Academies where he is coached under Oscar Pisano. “Coach Oscar is truly amazing; he has such an immense amount of love and passion for the game of soccer. This passion excites me on a daily basis” Eranna states. The two college soccer hopefuls took some time out of their busy schedules to sit down and discuss their plans for the future, what it is like being thousands of miles away from their families, and how star struck they are that 3 elite MLS teams and one Swedish Club (Malmo) are at IMG Academies.
Padmukamar and Eranna on…
…hearing about IMG Academies
“I heard about it from my personal soccer coach in India. We were searching for an academy for me to train at and it came down to either IMG or another academy in France. The main reason I chose IMG was because they had a school program set in place, and that was extremely important for me and my family.”-Said Padmakumar.
“My former coach used to play college soccer at Clark University and told me that there is an academy in Florida. I went online and looked at IMG’s website and I truly fell in love and decided that this was the place for me.”- Said Eranna.
…being so far from home
“It is definitely tough at first being in a whole new environment, yet our busy, nonstop schedules truly help. Being on the go almost every day keeps my mind off things.”-Said Padmakumar.
“I miss my family a lot; it was a challenge leaving them in early October when I arrived here. Yet, everyone at IMG has been extremely welcoming. A lot of people are in similar situations as me, far away from home, so we can all kind of relate in many ways.”-Said Eranna.
…their overall IMG Academies experience
“IMG prepares us in so many ways. One particular area that is essential for me is the physical side of things. IMG has all of the facilities at hand for us to grow physically and mentally. In India the physical side of the game is not focused on as much, but since being at IMG I have been able to become much stronger and more physical. At IMG they give you a step by step plan for you to follow from your first year through graduation. It makes things much easier. It makes becoming successful possible.”-Said Padmakumar
“IMG is truly preparing me for my future. I want to play college soccer and hopefully professional and IMG is taking my game to the next level. With the amazing coaches like coach Oscar and the equipment and facilities available, I definitely made the right decision coming here.”- Said Eranna.
…thoughts on the Professional Clubs being at IMG Academies
“It truly is great exposure for IMG. In India, since soccer is on such a smaller scale, I am able to meet the pros after almost every game. Yet here, since the clubs are so prestigious it is extremely rare for me to be able to meet with or even watch them play up close. A perfect example of this was when I got to meet Steve Zakuani (Seattle Sounders Forward, #1 overall pick in MLS Super Draft in 2009). It gives us hope; they used to be in our shoes and now look at them. Makes us think that could be us some day. It is truly motivating”. –Said Padmakumar
“Even though my favorite team, Liverpool, isn’t here, it is still pretty amazing. It is great exposure for IMG and for us as students. We get to learn and watch from some of the world’s best soccer players, where else can you do that. It is such an amazing opportunity that we all need to enjoy.”-Said Eranna.
Karan Padmakumar training with the U-15 team at IMG Soccer Academy
