Ranchi, Feb. 21: Finally, good news for the state?s aspiring women footballers.

The long-pending induction of 25 women into the residential Sports Authority of India-Special Area Games (SAI-SAG), Ranchi, is going ahead at last.

Selection trials to induct the 25 into the centre would be held on March 5 at the Birsa Munda Stadium.

State sports department secretary N.N. Sinha would chair the selection committee, which would also include former international-level coaches, physiologists and other such officials.

SAI administrator Sushil Kumar Verma said: ?The long-pending induction and commencement of training for women?s football in the state has finally got the green signal from SAI headquarters. We are conducting the selection camp and the selected candidates would be inducted into the residential scheme. The 25 selected girls would be nurtured by expert coaches, so that they can perform well during tournaments.?

Officials pointed out that SAG-SAG Ranchi centre had last conducted a football selection trial for women in July 2003, with an aim to open a football training hub. The proposed centre was also aimed at giving a much-needed boost to women?s football in the state, which was otherwise looking bleak.

But, nothing was done to further these aims and it took SAI such a long time (2003 to 2006) to finally take a decision to conduct the trials, the officials added.

The selected players would be inducted into SAI?s residential scheme, whereby they would be provided boarding, lodging, sports kits, competition exposure, educational expenses, medical expenses and also miscellaneous expenses.

Moreover, expert coaches at the centre would take special care to nurture the candidates.

Members of the winning teams or the runners-up teams for national or state tournaments would be automatically selected by the centre, and those who have represented the districts would be considered for admission.

?The players would be greatly benefited by this centre,? observed Verma.

?Most importantly, the girls would be properly guided. As of now, aspiring footballers are taking private training, where the coaching is not scientific. Moreover, the players do not get the required equipment or the proper diet.?

The Football Federation should train players, the SAI administrator said. ?But unless there is a national event, they do not organise camps.?