Srinagar, June 12: In a historic moment and first of its kind for our region, the J&K Sports Council Football Academy has been chosen for the esteemed AIFF Blue Cubs Development Center initiative, and has been recognized by the All India Football Federation as the Best Grassroots Center 2023–24. This is a big step in developing football talent at the grassroots level.
AIFF Blue Cubs Development Centre strives to nurture young footballers, giving them professional training and exposure from an early age. Undoubtedly, this project will benefit the UT by producing a new generation of talented football players and raising the bar for the sport in Jammu & Kashmir.
Established in 2017, the J&K Sports Council Football Academy has produced players for ISL & I-League Teams every year. In addition 13 players have represented Indian National Teams in various age groups. Among them were Saahil Khurshid, Jehangir, Muheet Shabir, Abdul Salha, Rishi Rajput, Sajjad Hussain, Suhail Ahmad, and many others.
The game of football in J&K has been reviewed with significant assistance from the academy. Currently, more than 1500 aspiring players receive football coaching every day from the 12 Khelo India Football Centers and 13 JKSC Academy District Units spread throughout J&K. Toddlers also receive attention towards the game in large numbers in JKSC Football School at Srinagar and Jammu.