Excelsior Sports Correspondent
JAMMU, June 6: Creating history, five boys have been directly selected to participate in the national camp of the north zone under-16 for upcoming South Asian Football Federation Championship (SAFF) Cup at Bhutan. The trials are scheduled to take place from June 7 to 13 in Punjab.
This is first time in Jammu and Kashmir’s football history that five boys have been selected in single go. The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has chosen 2 boys from each state, but Jammu and Kashmir has managed to secure five spots due to efforts of Arun Malhotra, an ex-International player and member of the AIFF Technical Committee who has worked tirelessly for the promotion of football in Jammu and Kashmir.
The players who were selected for the trials in North Zone are Arnav Sharma, Krish Kerni, Abdul Salha, Shear Gojri, Aayaan Bilal and Hashim Bilal.
It is pertinent to mention here that Nuzhat Gul, Secretary of the J&K Sports Council had also played a crucial role in the selection of these promising football players.
Speaking exclusively to Excelsior, Arun Malhotra said, ” I am extremely grateful to AIFF General Secretary, Shaji Prabakaran, Chief Technical Officer; Vincent Subramanyam and Technical Director; Sabir Pasha, who accepted our request on a very short notice to make this selection process successful, now it’s time for J&K to work on grassroots to nourish our youth,”
“We have immense talent in J&K but boys need exposure in competitive matches,” Malhotra added.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
