SHILLONG: the owner of North East United FC, John Abraham on Monday said that North East was the hot bed of football talents and Shillong was the melting pot.
John Abrahama was in Shillong on Monday to oversee the centre of excellence as the NE United FC in partnership with Shillong United FC is scouting in four states of the region including Meghalaya, Assam, Manipur and Mizoram.
He said that they were planning to have a residence academy here in Shillong which makes more and hence the tie up with Shillong United FC fits in perfectly.
Stating that the talent of the youths of the region should be developed, Abraham added that 70 per cent of the first team of the club comes from the youth academy.
He added that trial was going on for the first phase and added that the coaches of the clubs were going to different tournaments organized at the local level to find out the best talent.
He further added that the joint partnership of both the clubs will construct necessary infrastructure in Meghalaya. It may be mentioned that the partnership of both the clubs to hunt for the local talents has covered Shillong, Pynursula, Ummulong in Meghalaya where 600 kids appeared for the trials.
The future plans include expanding to other North Eastern states which is part of the second phase of NE United FC’s scouting drive, adding that the total number of players selected after the final trials are 24 players each in Under 15 and 17.
The shortlisted players from the final trials will form the U 15 and U 18 squads of the NE United FC who will be housed in a residential academy where all their need including education will be taken care of and the club’s youth team will play various competitions that would include the I league U 15 and 18.