This academy grooming budding players in Kashmir

Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir): The State Football Academy which was launched last year is grooming budding football players both boys and girls of the Kashmir valley for future crunches.

Budding players from different districts of the Kashmir valley are being groomed here at world-class Astroturf football field at TRC ground in Srinagar.

Head of Academy, Mehraj-u-din Wadoo said, "The kids here are immensely talented. We were just lacking the right opportunities hence opened State Football Academy to the budding players. Here players get quality training by professional coaches."

Coach, Nadiya Nighat said that players get right guidance and training at the academy for national and international levels match.

"We want more youth to join football, especially girls. We are trying to expand it here so that every kid is associated with sports and contributes in making the state proud. When the kid goes out to play at a national level, they usually get nervous. Hence, we have tried to give them all facilities here to prepare them for all future competitions," said Nighat.

Speaking about his experiences, a budding player said, "It is a great platform for us budding footballers. Boys and girls from all over the state come to get training here. We get good exposure with good training which will help us for the national as well as international levels game."

Kashmir has produced many football players in the past including Abdul Majeed Kakroo, Mehrajudin Wadoo and Ishfaq Ahmad who played for the Indian football team.

The State Football Academy which was started in September 2017 by the Jammu and Kashmir State Sports Council's football wing trains three age groups of Under-13, Under-15 and Under-18 years.

The academy was also awarded a two-star rating by All India Football Federation (AIFF) which provides them with a berth to participate in major tournaments of National Level like Junior I-League, Youth League, IFA Shield Durand Cup etc.