JK FOOTBALL ACADEMY TRIAL AT POLO GROUND

Abid Khan

Srinagar, Apr 13: The two-day JK Football Academy selection trials got kicked off at Polo ground here on Monday.
 The trials are being organized by Iqbal Sports football club and sponsored by New JK Roadways. Hundreds of young footballers in the age group 10 to 18 had thronged the Polo ground for participating in the trials.
 Trials are being held in two categories (10 to 14 years and 14 to 18 years) as the organizers are establishing two football academies in the age groups of Under-14 and 18. The selection is being done by a group of selectors, which include former Indian football team captain Abdul Majeed Kakroo, former international footballer Muhammad Yusuf Dar, veteran coach Muhammad Abdullah and two sports council football coaches. The selection process will continue on Tuesday.
 Iqbal Sports is organizing trials in connection with its silver jubilee celebration. As part of celebration, the club is launching football academy for age group of under-14 and 18. New JK Roadway would sponsor the academy by providing players’ football kit, which include shoes, uniform and kit bag. 
 In the academy NIS coaches like Sajid Dar and Hilal Parray would impart training. 
 Giving details patron Iqbal Sports, Bashir Malik said, “We are launching football academy as part of our silver jubilee celebration. Earlier, we were thinking to launch it on our own but we were fortunate enough to get a sponsor in shape of New JK Roadways which will bear expenses of academy.”
 “We have produced number of footballers in our club who later represented big teams of valley. International stars Mehrajjuddin Wadoo and Ishfaq also started their careers with Iqbal Sports. Now we want to serve grassroot level football and for that we are establishing academy in which future footballers will be groomed,” Malik said.
 Sajid Dar, who will impart training in the academy with other coaches said, “If we have to take standard of football in valley to the level which is in Kolkatta and Goa then the grooming of the footballers from grass root level is must.”

Publihsed in Greater Kashmir on April-14-2009 link http://www.greaterkashmir.com/full_story.asp?Date=14_4_2009&ItemID=5&cat=4