Kolkata: Indian football seems to be heading in the right direction as the moment. With the FIFA U-17 World Cup scheduled to be held this October, the Central Armed Police Forces have added to the footballing action after they declared the launch of an U-19 football tournament which would involve players from all over the country.
The Oorja CAPF U-19 Football Talent Hunt Tournament which would see around 12,500 players participate from all over India is set to be held in three phases starting from the 1st of May, this year.
The tournament would have around 1200 matches with the all-important final being held on the 25th of July. The winner of the tournament would be rewarded with a prize money of ₹20 lakhs.
Some eminent sporting legends like former Indian footballer Bhaichung Bhutia, five-time world champion Mary Kom, Olympic double medallist Sushil Singh, Indian cricketing legend Kapil Dev and former Indian footballer and brand ambassador of the tournament IM Vijayan were present at the launch of the tournament.
They were joined by chief guest and Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh who kicked some balls near the stage in an artificial turf said that this tournament would be a perfect build-up to the upcoming FIFA U-17 World Cup. “India has done well in individual sports recently and now is the time we do well in sports like football. We need football reach all the corners of India” said Rajnath, highlighting the fact that football is one of the most popular sports in India.
Bhaichung Bhutia had words of praise to offer to the organisers of the tournament and advised that the lower-age groups should be included in the tournament sometime in the future. Bhutia, who is also an AIFF adviser believes that the Indian football board is giving it all to make the U-17 FIFA World Cup a really successful one.
He said, “This time no one can raise a finger on AIFF. We have done all the preparations really well. Has done fantastic. Last two years the boys have been kept together. They have got the best of the facilities and training,” Bhutia said. The U-17 team is on an exposure and preparatory trip in Europe. They are bound to face junior squads of clubs like PSG.”
World Cup winning Indian cricket captain Kapil Dev also vowed his support to this tournament after he promised to wear a cap with the ,’ Oorja’ logo from now till the U-17 World Cup.
With this tournament receiving so much of support from various legendary sportspeople from major sporting disciplines, it is more or less sure to be a big hit. And Indian football would benefit hugely as the youth would get nurtured and one day, they too might dare to dream of entering the football pitch in the Indian colours.
(With inputs from agencies)