City lad hops on to Indian football team

Here is a bright football prospect from the city, which is suddenly getting a silver lining in a sport in which Hyderabad was once the most dominant force in the country. The city may no more be producing champion materials, thanks to the infighting within the governing body, but is has survived because of the zeal of some passionate coaches and promoters.

A year after the Sports School produced a few who made the national grade, the latest to join the bandwagon is S J Jayudu, whose prodigious talent has come in for praise from his coaches and those who have seen him play. A former product of St Andrews School in Bowenpally, he is currently pursuing his academics in CMRIT Engineering College.

Jayudu is the only player from either of the Telugu speaking States in the Indian team that is to participate in the 43rd Asian School Football Under-18 Boys Championship, which is being hosted in the Chinese province of Baotou from August 30 to September 9.The humble youngster, expressing his delight at the national call, hailed the role played by his original coach,

Tony, at the Shastri Soccer Club that is headquartered at Trimulgherry Village Ground. Tony said the lad can go places after he comes from the new assignment where he can get to play and observe the standards prevalent in other Asian countries.