J&K preferred venue for the
training of Indian Colts Football Team
SRINAGAR, MAY
02: Scripting history yet again, the
J&K Sports Council is once again gearing up to host twin camps for India
U-17 National Team camp, which is scheduled to participate in the SAFF U-17
Championship followed by AFC U-17 Championship Qualifiers in September and
October respectively.
While thanking the
J&K Sports Council and the Union Territory administration, the All-India
Football Federation through a communique expressed its gratitude for hosting
and providing the best possible facilities to the India U-16 National Team
training camp in Srinagar last year in August.
The team had
trained under the tutelage of the renowned footballer of the J&K, Ishfaq
Ahmad who was nominated as the head coach of the team for the SAFF U-16
Championship held at Thimphu, Bhutan in September 2023 wherein India U-16 team
won the title.
The initiatives and
assistance received towards the development of Indian Football and the impact
of National camps in J&K as acclimatization had helped the team a great
deal and earned applause from all corners.
The AIFF has
requested for the arrangement of both lodging & boarding facilities, and
transportation for a 42-member contingent comprising 35 players and 7 officials
from the first week of June this year.
To get the teams
trained for the international events, Ishfaq Ahmed has been appointed as the
Head Coach of the team.
The J&K earlier
had a reputation of hosting the Santosh Trophy, Federation Cup and Hero
I-League matches only but the venue due to several factors including the
training and acclimatization factors is fast turning into the preferred
location.
The Head Coach for
the twin camps Ishfaq Ahmed said that the hosting of camps in Srinagar is a
unique opportunity to host National Camps one after other to make it a routine
affair for the Union territory which will not only boost the local football
players but simultaneously infuse the new energy into the youngsters who are
eager to take up the affair.
“With an eye on the
growth of football and the involvement of the youth in the game in the region
which enjoys the numero-uno status due to its wide popularity the focus on
grassroots and its professional aspects shall add a new chapter in the football
history of J&K,” said Nuzhat Gull Secretary J&K Sports Council.
J&K is known
for producing great Football players and among the recent ones Mohammad Hamad
playing for Real Kashmir FC and Muheet Shabir of J&K Sports Council
Football Academy were awarded the best defender and the best goalkeeper respectively
in the recently held Indian League tournament.