AMM Foundation as BVB’s official youth development partner in India

Kochi: AMM Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Murugappa Group, and Borussia Dortmund (BVB) have signed a collaboration that will begin in July 2023, with AMM Foundation becoming BVB’s official youth development partner in India.

The collaboration aims to leverage BVB’s expertise and know-how in the areas of academy, youth football, grassroots player development, coach training, organizational planning and long-term infrastructure development to impact the lives of young people through football.

Since 2015, AMM Foundation has been running the Murugappa Youth Football Academy (MYFA) in Chennai. This is part of efforts to inculcate the values ​​of sportsmanship, discipline, teamwork, mental health, leadership and respect through football and sports to youth from economically disadvantaged communities. The collaboration with BVB, which has a football tradition of focusing on grassroots to player development, will help grow MYFA across India in the years to come.

As part of the official collaboration, Dr. Suresh Lechmanan (Managing Director Asia Pacific), Julian Wasserfuhr (BVB Evonik Football Academy Dortmund, Talent Development Coordinator) and Verena Leidinger (Manager International & New Business APAC) visited MYFA in Chennai in February. Attended a three-day preliminary camp with coaching drills and classroom sessions with players and coaches.

AMM Foundation, through MYFA, strives to use sports as a vehicle for social change and inclusion, and in BVB they count on a like-minded partner and are confident that through this collaboration, the lives of football players and coaches can be improved, said Murugappa Group Former Executive Chairman and AMM Foundation Board of Trustee Member M. M. Murugapan said.

Through this partnership with BVB, over 300 players and coaching staff are excited to learn and grow their technical skills, conditioning, mental preparation and more. Narayanan Hariharan, Senior Associate Vice President and Chief Executive, Narayanan AMM Foundation, said, “It will definitely take the goal of nurturing and developing these youth to the next level in the years to come, not only in Tamil Nadu but across India.”

It is a pleasure to partner with AMM Foundation and the Murugappa Group as we share a common vision that sports, especially football, can be used as a catalyst for positive change in society.

BVB Asia Pacific Managing Director Dr. Suresh Lechmanan said.