Keeping in mind the selection procedure of the India U-17 national team for the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup from the 2014 Coca-Cola Cup, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) has invited all State Associations to a Workshop with the AIFF Technical Team at the AIFF Headquarters, the Football House on July 1, 2014.

It’s compulsory for all the Secretaries and the Coaches of the Member Associations to attend the Workshop.

AIFF General Secretary Kushal Das told AIFF Medua that the “intention of the Workshop is to ensure that the Coca-Cola Cup, the primary source of scouting for 2017 U-17 FIFA World Cup is held and conducted in a manner which allows the AIFF spotters to pick the best talent in the Country and strengthen the U-17 Academies.”

An AIFF Regional Academy for boys born on or after 01.01.2000 has already been operational in Goa since February 2013. At present, 35 boys are training in two different AIFF Regional Academies in Goa in preparation for the 2017 U-17 FIFA World Cup.

The Cola-Cola Cup kicks-off in July 2014 with the Final Phase scheduled to be held in November 2014. Boys born on or after 01.01.2000 (till 01.01.2002) are eligible to participate in the Championship.

Other than the General Secretary, Scott O’Donell, Technical Director, AIFF Academies; AIFF’s Competition Department and Members from sponsors Coca-Cola would be addressing the Workshop which will also deal extensively on the age-verification for the boys besides the scouting, the philosophy and the format.

Das said AIFF would deal sternly with age-fraud, if any. “Adhering to age criteria is of utmost importance and strict penal action will be taken against the offenders,” he warned.

“We are making it mandatory for all Coaches to possess a minimum ‘C’ Licence degree,” Das further informed. “For the qualification procedure, we are giving preference to Schools on basis of their footballing credentials,” he added.

The format of the Championship will be divided into two phases. In the first phase, schools from within the State Associations will lock horns from where spotting for the State Teams are to be done.

(Report & Picture courtesy AIFF Media)