SRINAGAR: In a remarkable development for the sports ecosystem of Jammu and Kashmir, a national camp for the U-16 men’s football team is being held in Srinagar for the first time.
The notable feature of the camp is the appointment of chief coach Ishfaq Ahmed, a former international footballer and son of the soil. Having had coaching stints in the I-League with teams like Kerala Blasters, Ahmed considers this opportunity as one of the highlights of his career.
Following the national camp, the Under-16 men’s team will participate in the SAFF U-16 Championship scheduled to take place in Bhutan in September this year.
Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar, Advisor to Lieutenant Governor J&K, commented on this development, stating that this first-of-a-kind national camp will mark a new phase in the history of sports in J&K. He added that in recent years, with the sincere efforts of the government, sports infrastructure has been enhanced across Jammu and Kashmir.
Sarmad Hafeez, Secretary of Youth Services and Sports (YS&S), said, “It is a great honor for J&K to host the national U-16 boys’ team coaching camp in Srinagar.” He expressed that football has a large fan base in J&K, and the presence of the national team’s youth training in Srinagar will greatly motivate the local youth. The administration is committed to supporting the growth of football in the region.
Nuzhat Gull, Secretary of the Sports Council, expressed gratitude to the administration for their support in creating a favorable environment to host the first national football camp in J&K. She stated that the Sports Council, as a premier sporting body, will reach new heights by hosting such prestigious events.
Shaji Prabhakaran, General Secretary and Administrator of AIFF, thanked the J&K administration, especially the Sports Council, for hosting the India U16 team coaching camp in Srinagar.
Ishfaq Ahmed, the head coach, expressed his joy about the U-16 camp being held in Srinagar, emphasizing its unique significance. He highlighted that the national camp is a result of the efforts by AIFF’s President Kalyan Chaubey and Secretary General Dr. Shaji Prabhakaran to make football a pan-India affair.
Arun Malhotra, former international J&K footballer and technical committee member of AIFF, acknowledged the support of the J&K Government in contributing to the progress of football in the country. He expressed hopes that the team would emerge as champions in the SAFF U-16 tournament.
Apart from hosting Santosh Trophy, Federation Cup, and Hero I-League matches in the past, Jammu and Kashmir is now hosting a national football camp of this magnitude for the first time. The similar weather conditions between Srinagar and Bhutan further supported J&K Sports Council’s case for hosting the national camp.
In other sports-related news, Srinagar-based Downtown Heroes FC is set to participate in the prestigious Durand Cup this year. The club has made remarkable progress since its inception three years ago, not only within J&K football circles but also featuring in the I-League second division. They are now gearing up for the 132nd Durand Cup-2023.
Goalkeeper Muheet Shabir, full-back Hyder Yousuf, midfielder Shahmeer Tariq, stopper back Zubair Akhoon, and striker Parvaij Bhuiya are among the core faces of the club, considered to be future footballers of the country. The club’s coach, Hilal Parray, believes they have the potential to represent the country at the international level.
Furthermore, open selection trials for Pencak Silat were conducted at the Indoor Stadium Pologround in Srinagar for the forthcoming 11th Senior National Pencak Silat Championship-2023, to be held in Nashik, Maharashtra next month. Around 280 athletes, including both men and women from 15 district units, participated in the selection trials, which will be followed by a 21-day coaching camp supervised by the J&K Sports Council in Srinagar. (GNS)