Santosh Trophy trials from Monday

ABID KHAN


Srinagar, May 1: The J&K Football Association is organizing trials for picking its squad for the 63rd Santosh Trophy football tournament at Biscoe School Ground from May 4 to 6.
The 63rd Santosh Trophy would be held at Tamil Nadu from May 24 in which 31 teams from all around the country would participate.
For trials JKFA Kashmir Wing has selected 30 players while its Jammu wing has selected 20 players. Out of these, 24 would be selected for the camp that will start at the same venue. JK Team would leave from valley on May 18.
Giving details about the trials, a JKFA official said, “We selected talented players from all over the state for the trials. During short-listing, selectors gave preference to talent without caring whether he has represented state in any big event or not. After three days of trials, short listed players would undergo coaching camp.”
The Association has kept reserved the places of the players like Mehraj-ud-Din Wadoo, Ishfaq Ahmad, Kamal Jeet, Waseem Feroze and Mansoor who play for different national clubs.
“Several of our players are playing in I-league for different national level clubs. To make our contingent strong, we kept their places reserved till we get confirmation from their respective clubs. We have sent letters to their clubs managements,” the official said.
JK has been kept in Cluster III along with Mizoram, Madhya Pradesh and Pudicherry and they will play their all group matches at St Joseph College, Tiruchirappalli. In first match, they will lock horns with Madhya Pradesh on May 24 while on May 26 they will take on Pudicherry. In their last group match, JK will be against Mizoram.
The JKFA expects team to qualify for the next round by winning all their group matches.
“Luckily our team is in not in strong group and we expect to win all group matches. If our national stars are free to play Santosh Trophy, we can even beat teams like Pudicherry and Madhya Pradesh,” the official said.
Last year’s winners, Punjab, runner up Services and other two semi finalists West Bengal and Karnataka will directly play in the quarter final league round.
While 27 other teams are divided into eight clusters with each cluster winner playing in the pre-quarterfinal knockout round. The four winners from the pre-quarterfinal knockout round will qualify for the quarterfinal league round.
The quarter final league round will be divided into two groups with the winners and runners up from each group qualifying for the semis.
Chennai’s Nehru Stadium will host the quarterfinal league round matches, semis and the final. The final would be held on June 14.

published in greater kashmir on June 2 2009 http://greaterkashmir.com/full_story.asp?Date=2_5_2009&ItemID=8&cat=4