Siliguri, Nov.19: Former national footballer Shyam Thapa will hold a full-fledged selection session here in March for shortlisting soccer talents in north Bengal for Mohan Bagan Sail Football Academy.

The programme was finalised after he had met the Siliguri mayor, Bikash Ghosh, on Saturday.

Thapa, once famous for his bicycle volley and a prominent football star of this region, is currently the director of the academy.

“It has become a common trend to criticise Bengal football. I will prove that there are many talented players here,” Thapa told The Telegraph.

“I will hold the selection trial at Kanchenjungha Stadium here by the end of March, on behalf of the academy. Before that, I will spot the talents in other districts of north Bengal,” he claimed. Initially, seven to eight players in the age group of 15-18year would be selected.

The Mayor said, “Thapa came to me in last week with the proposal of organising a trial here, and I immediately agreed to extend him all sorts of support.”

Thapa has already selected a player called Amir Lama from the United Kurseong Football Club for the academy, while visiting Sukna Games and Sports Club, located at Sukna, about 7km from here.