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Chennaiyin FC conducts finals selection for Reliance Foundation Young Champs

Chennaiyin FC conducts finals selection for Reliance Foundation Young Champs (Photo courtesy: Chennaiyin FC)

Chennaiyin FC conducted a scouting festival for the final selection of kids from Tamil Nadu for the Reliance Foundation Young Champs (RFYC).

The festival was conducted by Chennaiyin FC technical director of grassroots and first team assistant coach Syed Sabir Pasha along with several other coaches and volunteers, under the supervision of Reliance Foundation Young Champs technical director Piet Hubers at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here in the city on Tuesday morning.

Reliance Foundation Young Champs is an initiative launched by Reliance Foundation. The aim of the programme is to spot top footballing talent in the country through the Indian Super League’s grassroots initiatives and give them the necessary impetus to enhance and hone their skills.

A pet project of the Indian Super League (ISL), the programme aims to identify and develop young kids between the ages of 11 and 14 to nurture them through a residential football scholarship.

All eight franchises of the ISL contribute through their various grassroots initiatives to help scout the talents who are ultimately hosted at RFYC’s Navi Mumbai facility. Over the past two years, the programme has successfully selected 41 ‘Young Champs’.

This year each franchise was given the mandate to scout kids born in 2005 and 2006. Chennaiyin FC shortlisted 64 boys from that age group after conducting grassroots festivals and selections all around Tamil Nadu. Tuesday was the final leg of the selection.

Once Hubers and his team of coaches complete attending the final selections of all eight Indian Super League franchises, the final list from Tamil Nadu will be announced.

Local great and former India international Sabir was happy with the effort put in by all coaches, volunteers and of course the young talents of the state.

“We will have to wait and see how many of our boys get selected but I feel everybody involved with our grassroots program has worked diligently to ensure we find the right talent and give them the best training possible.  Reliance Foundation Young Champs is a fantastic initiative, giving aspiring young footballers a great platform to learn and develop. We thank Piet and his team for their support and guidance and look forward to the final selection list,” Sabir stated.