IndianFootball.Com is proud to bring you the first interview with Kean Lewis since the announcement of his trials at Leicester City FC. Greatness in modern football lies in being taught skills and training in a rigorous sporting environment that is at the cutting edge. Kean Lewis, all of 14 years from Mumbai, is at the doorsteps of gaining admission to such a sporting academy in the UK.
Kean Lewis has been training with PIFA (Premier India Football Academy) in Mumbai for some time. PIFA is affiliated with the Bobby Charlton Soccer & Sports Academy in the UK.
Kean first gained visibility in November 2004 at a PIFA football training camp held in Goa. He was immediately identified by BCSSA Director & Coach - Ian Bateman (currently the head of the training at the Bolton Wanderers Academy) as a boy with lots of potential. He went on to win the skills contest in his age group, he was also declared player of the PIFA tournament held in Goa. He then attended the PIFA Mumbai league and once again came out as the top performer.
In May 2005, he went to Manchester (BCSSA) and once again topped the skill's test with a whopping 940 points (David Beckham holds the record at BCSSA with 1100 points as an 11 year old). He was also the highest scorer from India in the skills test from all the 8 camps organized by PIFA in 2005.
Kean Lewis was invited to participate in the BCSSA World Skills Final held in Manchester in December 2005, where he stood third in his age group and sixth overall.
Back in India, he has scored over 50 goals in the inter-school tournaments in the last one and a half years. Considering that he has played only 3 tournaments, it is truly an amazing performance. His performance has helped his school for the first time to win the Division IV Mumbai School Sports Association football U14 title. He is part of the Mahindra United U15 team.
BCSSA Director & UEFA A License Coach - Simon Jennings has quoted "Kean is cut out for bigger things. To achieve this, it is important for him to get top class training and the clock starts now."
Kean also attended the camp with AC Milan in May 2006, and was once again picked out by the AC Milan Academy coach Otello Di Remigio. He said, "Kean has some good qualities but he needs to work a lot and he should stay among guys better than him as soccer technique and characteristics. I think, probably, in Italy they oversee a lot of guys as him. Then some of them can achieve great results because of their mental approach. Others lose the right way..."
Kean has now been asked to appear for trials at the Leicester City FC in England. The trials will last 3 weeks and if Kean gets selected, he will go to the LCFC Academy for a number of years. PIFA is also working on arranging trials at other such Academies at clubs in the UK as they work to nurture up and coming football talent.
Here is an interview with Kean Francis Lewis - a young, bright, potential future star of Indian football.

First of all Congratulations on making it to the trial for Leicester City. Please tell us a little more about yourself? How old are you? Where do you come from?

Thanks you! My fathers name is Foster and mother's Pearl. I am 14 years old and I come from Thane, Maharashtra.

What made you lean towards football as compared to other sports especially cricket?

This sport attracted my attention in school. It was a sport that was given more importance. And I was interested in a sport that where I would be involved continuously unlike in cricket where only one player gets to bat or bowl and the others have to watch.

How old were you since you started to play football seriously, with proper coaching etc.

I was six years when I began serious practice, but I got my first proper coaching at the PIFA-BCSSA camp in Goa in 2004.

How much do you put into practice time these days on a weekly and daily basis?

At least 6-8 hours in a week.

You have been to several skill camps and soccer clubs in Europe? Which club or academy did you find the best and why?

The best one was the BCSSA (Bobby Charlton Soccer School Academy) camp in Manchester. I found this interesting as they had interesting and better methods of training.

How do find any of the Indian academies and clubs rank in comparison to what you have seen overseas?

Actually in India there is no comparison except for the PIFA (Premier Indian Football Academy) since they have been adopting international methods of training.

What are you ultimate ambitions as related to football? Do you dream of playing for India?

My ultimate ambition is to be a good player and to play for a big club in the EPL (English Premier League). And help India qualify for the World Cup, I would like to play for India.

Your favorite football players and club please? Do you watch any of the Indian NFL games on TV when the season is on?

My Favorite players are - Ronaldinho, Kaka, Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney.
Favorite clubs - Chelsea and Barcelona
Yes, I do watch the NFL and I support Mahindra United, as I play for their junior team.

Is the Leicester City FC trial a trial for the Academy or the youth football team?

This is a trial for the Leicester City Academy - junior team.

How long will the training last if you make it to the Academy?

I will have to train 7-8 hours a week with the academy.

All the best for your trials!