Srinagar, May 15 (KNO): The India Khelo Football (IKF) in association with Woodland House School (WHS) Sports Hub successfully conducted their third season of the grassroots football trials here on Monday. The trials saw the participation of over 150 players in the Under-15 and Under-17 categories from various parts of the valley.
Sharing details about the trials, Viraj Sharma, Director Woodland House School and WHS Sports Hub, as per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said that the India Khelo Football is a people-led movement aimed at developing football at the grassroots level. The non-profit platform provides children from across India with a fair chance to pursue their dream of playing football internationally, he said.
“With the tagline ‘Aap Khelo, Mauka Ham Denge’, India Khelo Football promises to give players a chance to excel if they give their best. The platform's ultimate goal is to create a global pathway for players to become professional footballers,” said Viraj.
He said the IKF's scouts identify talented players first at the city level, and the players who get selected in Srinagar will attend the zonals. The top talent will be selected for nationals where the international, ISL and I League clubs will be present. Some of the most talented players will also be selected for an international exposure program sponsored entirely by IKF, he added.
The trials in Srinagar were organized by WHS Sports Hub and promoted by its founder Mr Viraj Sharma to provide a fair platform for players who wish to pursue football professionally. The 7-a-side trial lasted for nearly 10 hours and was conducted on the WHS premises. IKF scout Mr Khalid identified several highly talented players during the trial.
The players and parents were excited about the opportunity and hailed the IKF's initiative as a great development for grassroots football. “It is a great initiative by IKF for the development of grassroots football and to hunt talented players at the city level,” said one of the parents.
“I along with my team, enjoyed playing the India Khelo Football trial, and we feel it is a great opportunity for anyone who wants to become a professional footballer,” said another participant.
The results of the trials will be announced within 10 days after digital analysis, and the selected players will move to the next round of trials. India Khelo Football's efforts to provide a fair chance for players to pursue their dreams of becoming professional footballers have been widely appreciated, and their mission is set to create a concrete pathway for grassroots players to excel.”—(KNO)