With less than a year left for India to host its first ever FIFA World Cup, the FIFA U-17 World Cup India 2017, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) is leaving no stone unturned to bolster the Indian U-17 World Cup squad as vigorous scouting for talented players goes underway.

Even as all clubs and academies participating in the AIFF U-16 Youth League nominate a maximum of three players for the scouting camp, AIFF Director of Scouting Abhishek Yadav feels this is a “step in the right direction.”

“We have scouted vigorously in the past and will continue scouting for talent across the nation to bolster the Indian U-17 World Cup squad,” Abhishek, also the Chief Operating Officer of the Indian U-17 World Cup squad told AIFF Media.

“India is a huge country and footballing talent present in the nation has tremendously increased over the last couple of years. Through scouting we aim to identify the talented players and if found wanting, integrate them into the Indian U-17 World Cup squad.”

“We will continue scouting till the FIFA U-17 World Cup India 2017 and leave no stone unturned in our quest to select the best for the national team,” he added.

The nominated players from the clubs and academies will ply their trade in front of the AIFF scouts.

The Indian U-17 World Cup Squad is already composed of players like Aniket Jadhav, Aman Chetri, Saurabh Meher, Shubham Sarangi and Narendar, all of whom were discovered through the scouting network.

Commenting on scouting through the AIFF U-16 Youth League, Yadav stated: “The reason we upgraded the U-15 Youth League to the U-16 Youth League was the backdrop of the FIFA U-17 World Cup India 2017. It gives us an opportunity to see the three best players of respective teams playing in the league.”

“After seeing the players we will zero down on the possible talent and if a particular players fits what we are looking for. The scouting in the U-16 Youth League will further extend our horizons of talent identification,” he stressed.

“It has to be collective effort from all stakeholders involved when it comes to the Indian U-17 World Cup squad. The clubs play a major role in aiding us to identify talent.”

(Report & Photo courtesy: AIFF Media)