Glimpse into the future

At a time when the national team is in the doldrums and the I-League is battling for survival,the performance of the young players from the All India Football Federation’s (AIFF) regional academy based in Navi Mumbai breathes fresh life into the game. Ever since they were recruited in May last year,these boys – aged under-15 – were described as the best available young talents in the country. Talented,but untested. However,they’ve proven their credentials in the ensuing months.

The academy boys have last lost a match four months ago; a close 2-1 defeat to the Maharashtra Santosh Trophy squad. Since then,they’ve been unstoppable,registering eight consecutive wins including a 8-0 demolition of Super League side Indian Cultural League in their last match. No wonder the Father Agnels Sports Complex,where they are based,has a vibrant feel to it. “These guys have been staying together for last eight months and know each other well. The understanding they share is visible on the pitch,” explains the academy’s manager Shailesh Karkera.

Fixed routine

Boasting of 20 young players,who are trained by head coach Sajid Dar,his deputy Aqueel Ansari and goalkeeping coach Yousuf Ansari,the academy has a yearly calendar divided into four sessions. Technical director Scott O’Donnell has chalked out a curriculum,which is diligently followed by Dar and his backroom staff.

Each day is divided into core sessions,where the boys are made to do strengthening exercises,and non-core sessions which take place in the evening. Every Saturday,the trainees play a match with a team from outside the academy,including from the Elite and Super Division. “It’s like a homework for them. Whatever they learn through the week,they have to implement in the match,” Karkera says. “Basically,we work on the module set by Scott. According to the module,we work on a particular aspect of the game every day. Every session is match related and that has been the philosophy here.”

Tactical overhaul

It’s also been a complete tactical overhaul. Indian sides over the years have been playing the straightforward 4-4-2 formation. India’s technical director Rob Baan,however,has insisted that national teams adopt the 4-3-3 system,which is believed to be more attacking and provides right balance to the squad. “So the change has to be implemented from the grass roots and it begins here. These kids are being taught to play in a way that Rob envisions the national team to,” Karkera points out.

That means,choosing right players for the academy becomes imperative. The system demands more ball-playing footballers; the ones who have the ability to keep the ball and attack the defenders at the same time. Karkera says the trainees at the academy have been carefully chosen,from various age-group tournaments that are held across the country. However,the core group of the players was picked from the Mir Iqbal Hussain Trophy,an equivalent of the national championships for the under-15 boys. “Right now,majority of the players are from North East and Goa. They have been provided accommodation here and their education is taken care off,” says Karkera.

Age fudging

The AIFF has been forced to become extra cautious while recruiting the players,owing to the perennial problem of age fudging,which has been rampant in Indian sports. Last year,around 84 players out of the 12 shortlisted candidates were found to be overage,delaying the start of other regional academies in the country. “We have a zero-tolerance policy and have sent back players who have forged their age. We conduct MRI scans on every player who comes here and his data is recorded for future reference,” says Karkera.

Currently,though,he along with the rest of the coaching staff is focused on moulding the current batch of players into national team material. Their first big test would be the 2015 AFC Under-19 Championships,while the next batch will be groomed for the 2017 Under-17 World Cup. Coach Dar says most of these players will end up representing India five years down the line. “I keep hearing people demanding results. Products are not developed over such a short period. It will take time but as head coach here I can see these boys playing for India five or six years later,” Dar says.