Bengaluru: The Ryan Group of Institutions and All-India Football Federation (AIFF) today formally launched their School Grassroots Football Programme at a ceremony held at Prakash Padukone CSE, Yelahanka, Bengaluru. The event marked a significant milestone in the two organisations’ partnership, aimed at introducing structured football and futsal coaching in schools across the country.
The launch builds on a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between AIFF and Ryan Group on 18th February 2026, under which the two organisations committed to developing a structured football and futsal curriculum for the Ryan school network. Since the signing, Ryan Group’s football coaches in Delhi and Bengaluru have completed training and certification under AIFF’s coaching programme, laying the groundwork for today’s launch.
With this rollout, the School Grassroots Football Programme will now be introduced in 10 cities, covering 25 schools, during the 2026–27 academic year — giving thousands of students structured access to professional football coaching, a certified curriculum, and organised futsal training as part of their school experience. The ceremony was attended by Mr. M. Satyanarayan, Deputy Secretary General, AIFF, and Mr. Ryan Pinto, CEO, Ryan Group of Institutions, as Chief Guests. The proceedings began with an introduction to the School Grassroots Programme.
A key highlight of the event was the certification ceremony, where Mr. Satyanarayan presented certificates to the Ryan Group coaches who completed AIFF’s training programme, recognizing their readiness to deliver the new curriculum in schools. This was followed by the formal release of the Sports Curriculum by Mr. Satyanarayan and Mr. Pinto, setting the framework that will guide football and futsal coaching across all 25 participating schools.
“Today marks a significant milestone for us as we partner with Ryan Group of Institutions to strengthen grassroots football in India. Ryan’s outstanding legacy in education and their belief in structured sport make them a natural partner for this journey. With over 150 schools across the country, this collaboration lets us reach and inspire thousands of young students — many picking up a football for the very first time.
Beginning with 25 schools in 10 cities, our focus isn’t just introducing the game, but teaching it the right way — training and certifying coaches so every child learns football with the right guidance, skills, and values, right from the start.” said Mr. M. Satyanarayan, Deputy Secretary General, AIFF.
“We are delighted to launch our School Grassroots Football Programme in partnership with the All India Football Federation (AIFF), marking a significant milestone in our commitment to building a strong sporting culture across our schools. Spanning 25 schools in 10 cities, the initiative introduces structured football and futsal programmes while investing in our coaches through specialised training and internationally recognised certification. By equipping educators with the right skills and expertise, we aim to give students access to high-quality coaching and inspire a lifelong passion for the game. This partnership reflects our vision of making football an integral part of school education — fostering teamwork, discipline, and holistic development among young learners.” said Mr. Ryan Pinto, CEO, Ryan Group of Institutions.
