Excelsior Sports Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 14: After groundbreaking initiative of State Football Academy (SFA) of Jammu and Kashmir State Sports Council (JKSSC) to open District Football Units and Football Learning Schools in each district of the State under Mission-22, SFA has started its first ever domestic league “SFA Inter Academies Football League 2017-18” as per the format of Junior I-League of All India Football Federation to groom and harness football talent of the State.
The first SFA Inter Academies Football League 2017-18 of State Football Academy (SFA) was officially kicked off at MA Stadium, here.
During the inaugural ceremony, an inaugural match was played between SFA Jammu and SFA Kathua to mark the beginning of Inter-Academy Football League.
On the inaugural ceremony, Chief Sports Officer JKSSC, Haji Abdul Qayoom was the chief guest, while President Jammu and Kashmir Football Association, Zameer Ahmad Thakur was the guest of honour.
The event was also graced by the presence of International Footballer, Arun Malhotra, besides Surinder Singh Bunty, Ramesh Chander, Fayaz Sofi, and Ashok Singh.
22 teams drawn from various districts are participating under the three age categories comprising of 13, 15 and 18 respectively.
Executive Officer of SFA said that the idea behind holding Inter-Academy League is to develop football at grassroot level besides to provide a window of opportunity to budding and aspiring footballers to show their mettle.
The first match of the league in Cluster-Jammu was played between SFA Jammu and SFA Kathua in which SFA Jammu sealed victory by 2-1. The goal scorers from Jammu side were Madhav Sharma and Paras Bassan while as Ritesh Singh was the lone goal scorer from SFA Kathua.
Almost 9 matches will be played in this cluster and the remaining seven clusters will start their Inter Academy League matches in their respective districts from the next week.
Jammu cluster league is being organized by Organizer Secretary, Satpal Singh while as Iqbal Singh was the Match Commissioner and Vishvamitra as League Coordinator.
Moreover, SFA Coaching panel was assigned the job of Officiating the match so as to groom them as future officials for the State.
The league is being played under the aegis of Jammu and Kashmir Football Association as per the guidelines of All India Football Federation.
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