SHILLONG: The Shillong Sports Association (SSA) has decided to adjust the cut-off year for the players who will participate in the upcoming under-14 football tournament as part of the preparation for the Under-17 FIFA World Cup, which will be hosted by India in 2017.
“The cut-off year of the players will now be from June 1 2000 instead of January 1 2001,” SSA secretary B Diengdoh said here on Tuesday.
He said that this decision to change the cut year was taken after the policy of FIFA was reviewed.
“So far, a majority of the clubs affiliated with the SSA have expressed their keenness to participate in the tournament,” the SSA secretary said.
He, however, added that the last date for the teams to confirm their participation is January 20.
The Association will hold an U-15 tournament next year to be followed by an U-16 event in 2016 in order to mould the players ahead of the U-17 World Cup and give them the necessary platform with an eye in making the national team.