Phil Thompson embarks on a talent hunt in Mumbai schools

Legendary Liverpool defender Phil Thompson took out time on Wednesday to train students of a municipal school in Mumbai.

Thompson is in India to promote a club-backed football program called 'Go Forward' to scout and tap into the best available soccer talent available in the country.

"The 'Go Forward' campaign is looking at the municipal schools, trying to look at the talent. So this is a part of my stay here, being the ambassador of the Liverpool football club," said Thompson.

"So, I have come along here today to see the children, to see the environment, what they do in coaching and they are really good, some of the skills and one of the boys is very very good. It is just great to come here. We did few drills with the boys today and it is really nice to be here," he added.

The excited soccer enthusiasts were thrilled at learning new skills and techniques.

As a part of the initiative, a massive talent hunt would be conducted across 80 to 100 schools of Mumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).

Following three levels of selection, the soccer ambassador informed that the best 82 students would be picked and would be provided with rigorous training from both professional Indian League and Liverpool FC coaches.

"Basically, we will be looking at a 80 or 100 schools, that is 2000 to 2500 students will be involved in it. And then it will be down from there, looking for the best 650 and then the best 82, which will have four months top-quality training from top Indian coaches," said Thompson.

"Some coaches from our academy in Liverpool will come over here, with one or two of the legends, hopefully will be coming with them. It is an ongoing project," he added.

The professional training and the chance to rub shoulders with the iconic footballer left most of the young soccer aspirants gasping for more.

"First of all, I would like to say that I am feeling very good that I am playing with such a great coach and I am taking training from him and we learnt half-volley and all other techniques," said Sunil Rathore, a student.

"We are getting to learn new things and new kind of training, so we are feeling very good about it," added Durgesh Nandan, another student.

Liverpool FC launched its first soccer academy in India on August 24 with former midfielder Steve McMahon as its principle coach and mentor.

Giving India's budding football talent an international edge, the club plans to set up world-class training facilities in and around New Delhi by October this year. (ANI)