New Delhi: The Subroto Cup organisers have sought the support of I-League clubs in scouting talented footballers during the country’s biggest inter-school tournament, which will start from September 27 here.
Once regarded as the perfect platform for promising talent in the country, the tournament has, in the last few years, lost its sheen and failed to act as a launch pad for the future generation of stars.
“The Subroto Cup organisers have written to all I-League clubs to help them scout talent so that the young footballers participating in the tournament get the much-needed exposure at the senior level,” said Wing Commander VN Singh, one of the tournament organisers, at the launch of Subroto Cup.
The organisers are also working hard to tackle age fraud, which has marred the image of the prestigious tournament.
“We have a medical team where doctors are conducting X-rays, if we find something wrong, we will conduct bone-test. We are very strict with that,” said Singh.
There are talks that the organisers want the event to be covered under the anti-doping agency, NADA.
“Though we haven’t got into anti-doping measurement, but in near future we could. From next year, we may tie up with NADA,” said Air Marshal HB Rajaram, the Officer in-charge of Adminsitration.
There were allegations in the past of teams sending over-aged players to the tournament.
Meanwhile, the 54th edition of the Subroto Cup gets bigger this year with a total of 81 teams participating in the tournament, including first timers Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshwadeep.
The competition will witness nine more teams than last year, which would be vying for three titles – Under-14, Under-17 boys and U-17 girls.
The centre of attraction this year would be Ukrainian side Troeshchina, which won the UNICEF Cup in Spain this year, and start as favourites. The side comprises under-privileleged children adopted by the Centre of Physical Health for Everybody in Ukraine.
The other five foreign teams would be from Oman, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. (PTI)