Jamshedpur FC kick starts registration for youth team (U15) Trials for the Tata Football Academy (TFA)

Jamshedpur, October 17:

•     4-year full residential scholarship

•     The trials are open to boys born between 1st January 2011 and 31st December 2012

•     The players will be representing the Jamshedpur FC Youth teams and will also have a chance to represent Jharkhand as well as the Indian National teams across various age categories.

Jamshedpur Football Club has announced trials for its U15 (TFA) team. The online registration is open starting today and will close on 31st October 2024, 11:59 PM. 

Established in 1987, the prestigious Tata Football Academy (TFA) has played a pivotal role in identifying and nurturing some of India’s top footballing talent. Till date, 303 cadets have graduated from the academy, with 149 players (49%) progressing to represent both top professional football clubs and the Indian National Football team. Among the notable alumni are Pronay Halder, Udanta Singh, Subrata Paul, Noel Wilson, Robin Singh, Narayan Das, Carlton Chapman, Renedy Singh, and Mahesh Gawli, all of whom have made significant contributions to Indian football at various levels. A total of 24 cadets have captained the Indian National football team across various age group tournaments. 

AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey, himself a former TFA cadet, in his recent visit to the U17 batch convocation as the Guest of Honour said adoringly, “I was part of the TFA’s first convocation in 1995 and I am lucky to be present in the 15th convocation. Back then, TFA was the only professionally run academy, providing us with European tours where we learned modern football techniques. TFA continues to produce gold and its value never diminishes.”

Currently there are more than 60 players such as Pronay Halder, Udanta Singh, Chinglensana Singh, Rithesh Sharma, Vinit Rai, Sourav Das of TFA present across clubs in ISL. TFA players such as Mahesh Gawli, Gourmangi Singh, Rennedy Singh and Noel Wilson have also now gone on to become top coaches with ISL Clubs as well as the Indian National team.

The trials are open to boys born between 1st January 2011 and 31st December 2012 (both dates inclusive). The selection process will be rigorous, with players evaluated on their performance in match situations, technical skills, tactical awareness, and physical abilities. Successful candidates will progress through to the final rounds of selection, where they will face further tests. 

Mukul Choudhari, CEO of Jamshedpur FC, said, “The trials represent a crucial opportunity for young footballers across the country to showcase their talent and begin their journey towards professional football. I am very to happy to state that we have over 9 players in the current Jamshedpur FC first team squad who have progressed from the youth system, with 7 of them being from the Tata football academy. With the academy’s world-class facilities and strong development program, we are confident that the next generation of players will continue our tradition of excellence. I encourage all aspiring footballers to give it their best and wish them success in the trials.”

TFA is amongst the highest-rated (3-star) AIFF accredited academy with all top facilities. The selected players will receive a full scholarship for four years. The players will have access to the exclusive training facilities, education, recreation rooms, accommodation and meals. The academy has top licensed coaches to provide training supplemented by best medical facilities for recovery and rehabilitation. The academy is also supported by psychologists, nutritionists, physiotherapists, masseurs, etc. from the High Performance Centre, Jamshedpur. The players will be representing the Jamshedpur FC Youth teams and will also have a chance to represent Jharkhand as well as the Indian National teams across various age categories. 

The last trial held in 2022, saw over 4000 candidates applying from all across India. For its continued contribution to the development of Indian football, the All India Football Federation had conferred TFA the “Continuous contributions to Indian Football” award while Tata Steel was awarded the “Valuable contribution to the Development of Football” award by Col. Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore – then Hon’ble Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports . 

“The trials at Tata Football Academy are not just about identifying talent, but about finding players who are committed to growing and excelling in the sport. We are looking for individuals who show both skill and a passion for learning. This is an incredible opportunity for young footballers to benefit from our comprehensive training program, and we are excited to discover the next generation of football stars,” said Kundan Chandra, the Head Youth and Grassroots.

All participants will be responsible for their own travel, accommodation, and meals during the trial period. Candidates must also upload original scanned copies of their birth certificate, Aadhaar card, passport (if available), and a passport-sized photograph.

Interested players are requested to visit the club’s website www.fcjamshedpur.com and click on the link to head to the registration page. For further details, please contact 0657-2221736 between 10 AM and 6 PM, Monday to Friday.

Online Registration Process

Prospective players are required to register online by filling out a detailed form, ensuring that all information provided is accurate. Candidates must also upload original scanned copies of their birth certificate, Aadhaar card, passport (if available), and a passport-sized photograph. Upon submission, applicants will receive a registration number through SMS and email, followed by a trial date and time after verification of their details.

Only birth certificates issued by government authorities will be accepted, and the date of registration on the certificate must be within one year of the player’s actual birth date. Additionally, selected candidates will undergo age verification and medical tests, as required.

Candidates must follow these steps carefully to ensure successful registration:

Step 1 – Visit www.fcjamshedpur.com and click on selection trial link

Step 2 – Read the instructions carefully  

Step 3 – Keep ready scanned original copies of your Birth Certificate, Aadhaar Card, Passport (if available), and a passport-size photograph.

Step 4 – Click Next and Fill in all mandatory fields accurately with correct information.

After submitting the registration form, a Registration Number will be sent via SMS and email. Please ensure your contact details are correct. You will receive a notification after your data has been verified, and the trial date and time will be communicated thereafter.

Important Notes: 

Only original birth certificates issued by valid government authorities will be accepted, and the registration date on the certificate must be within one year of the player’s actual birth date.

Candidates will undergo age verification and medical tests as required.

A letter from the school principal certifying the candidate’s age and current class is mandatory.

Participants must arrange their own travel, accommodation, and meals during the trials.

Canvassing in any form will lead to automatic disqualification.

Durand Cup 2024 Fixtures Out: Mohun Bagan to Face Downtown Heroes FC Kashmir in Opener

Defending champions Mohun Bagan Super Giant kick-off title defense against Downtown Heroes FC.

133rd edition of India’s oldest football tournament to be held across multiple cities.

New Delhi/Kolkata, July 12 2024: Defending champions Mohun Bagan Super Giant (MBSG), will face Downtown Heroes FC of Kashmir in the opening match of the 133rd IndianOil Durand Cup on 27th July, 2024, at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (VYBK) in Kolkata. The match will kick-off at 6 PM IST. The group stage matches will end on August 18th with the famous Kolkata Derby between MBSG and city-rivals and fellow Indian Super League (ISL) side Emami East Bengal (EEB), being slotted at the VYBK, as the final fixture of Group A.

All 43 matches of the 133rd IndianOil Durand Cup will be broadcast LIVE on the Sony Sports Network as well as livestreamed on the SonyLiv OTT platform.

While matches of Group A, B and C will be held in Kolkata, the first match in Jamshedpur, a first time host where Group D matches will be played, will see hosts Jamshedpur FC take on Bangladesh Army Football Team, who are one of the two foreign teams competing in the tournament.

Group E games begin in Kokrajhar on July 30th with local side Bodoland FC taking on ISL side NorthEast United FC. Shillong, which will also be hosting the IndianOil Durand Cup for the very first time, will see the hosts Shillong Lajong FC take on Nepal’s Tribhuvan Army Football Team on August 2nd, 2024, in the first fixture of Group F.

The VYBK and Kishore Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata, JRD Tata Sports Complex in Jamshedpur, SAI Stadium in Kokrajhar and the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong, will be the tournament venues. A total of 24 teams have been divided into six groups with the six group toppers and two best second placed teams slated to qualify for the knockouts.

ABOUT IndianOil DURAND CUP

A symbol of India’s football history and culture, the Durand Cup is Asia’s oldest and the world’s third oldest football tournament. Organized by the Indian Army on behalf of the three Services, the Durand Cup has been the breeding ground for India’s best footballing talent, over the years.

The inaugural edition happened in Shimla in 1888 and then the tournament moved to New Delhi in 1940, where it was held till 2016. In 2019, the tournament came under the aegis of the Eastern Command and moved to the eastern part of the country, with Kolkata, the Mecca of Indian football and the Eastern Command Headquarters, being the home base. What makes the Durand Cup even more unique is that the winners get three trophies, two rotating (Durand Cup and Shimla Trophy) and one for permanent keep (President’s Cup).

As we embark on this exciting journey over the coming weeks, let us celebrate the beautiful game of football, honour the traditions of the Durand Cup, and look forward to witnessing moments of brilliance that will be etched in our memories forever.

Durand Cup Group Stage Fixtures

Durand Cup, Fixture, 2024, Kolkata, Shillong, Jamshedpur, Kokrajhar

Sikkim Announce Santosh Trophy 2014-15 Squad

Santosh Trophy, Football, South Zone, North-East Zone, East Zone, West Zone, North ZoneSikkim has announced a 20 member squad for the 69th Santosh Trophy Championship.

Sikkim has been placed in a group featuring Odisha, Railways and Chattisgarh at the zonal round being hosted at Jamshedpur. They play against Odisha on January 16, Railways on January 18 and Chattisgarh on January 20. Only one team will progress into the next round.

Team :

Goalkeepers: Karma Tshering Lepcha, Bimal Bagdas
Defence: Nim Tshering Lepcha, Amit Pariyar, Tema Lhendup Bhutia, Wangchuk Bhutia, Bishal Chettri, Dawa Lepcha
Midfield: Ong Tshering Lepcha (captain), Bikash Gurung, Roshan Pradhan, Suk Raj Limboo, Chandra Tamang, Sanjay Chettri, Sahenshah Ansari, Novin Gurung, Pappu Chettri
Fowards: Tenzin Tshepel Bhutia, Sishil Karthak, Sudesh Subba

Coach: Puspa Gurung Manager: Kamal Bagdas Asst Manager: Rakesh Gurung