Trainees practise on the camp’s inaugural day at the Tata Football Academy in Jamshedpur on Wednesday. (Bhola Prasad)

Jamshedpur, Oct. 20: The Tata Football Academy kicked off its two-week special training camp today, playing host to 25 youngsters from India and one from neighbouring Nepal.

Inaugurated by TFA board management member Satish Pillai, tthe 7th edition of the annual camp aimed at giving specialised training to youngsters under TFA coaches P. Vijay Kumar and Kausar Ahmed. Ahmed, a former TFA cadet and goalie, will focus on honing goal-keeping skills, while the residential camp will overhaul the players’ game, keeping in mind global techniques and personality development.

Starting from Day One, players from Jharkhand, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Manipur, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Mizoram, among others, started field practice. Jharkhand has as many as five trainees, of whom two are from Jamshedpur.

“I have heard good things about this academy from soccer players of my state and I am here to learn. I want to represent my country some day,” said a trainee from Madhya Pradesh during practice.

Pillai, who headed the TFA earlier, underlined the importance of specialised training, requesting trainees to stay focussed on the days ahead.

“We are happy to host the special training camp for the seventh year on the trot. We hope the boys get enriched with tactical tips and modern techniques,” said academy senior manager M.R. Bhalla.

Besides on-field activities, the boys will also attend special classes on mental strength, positive thinking team building, control of emotions during the match and yoga, Bhalla added.

Trainees are staying at TFA itself. “Rooms are vacant as our cadets are in Delhi for the Durand Cup,” said a coach.

In the ongoing Durand Cup, TFA boys started well by posting a 2-1 win over Uttaranchal Police yesterday,. Cadets Udanta Singh and Pankaj Kumar scored the goals.