Jamshedpur, Dec. 18: Twelve of the total 20 players in the soccer team which is going to take part in the under-19 national football championships for BC Trophy are from Tata Football Academy (TFA).

The under-19 Jharkhand team that leaves early tomorrow morning for Bhillai, has only two players from Chakradharpur, three from SAIL and one each from Bokaro, Ranchi and Koderma.

Although not openly, the state football association and TFA officials acknowledge it is difficult to think of the Jharkhand soccer team without TFA cadets.

JFA officials said they did not want to disturb the winning combination of the state team, which is why so many TFA cadets have found a place in the team.

JFA secretary Gulam Rabbani justified the selection of the TFA cadets.

“It is true that more than half the team members are from the TFA. But that does not mean we cannot do without them. We just did not want to disturb the winning combination as it would be a hattrick for Jharkhand, if we repeat our feat. At the same time, there is also a need to prepare a parallel team which can be utilised in crisis and the process is on,” he said.

TFA sources maintained that the standard of football was gradually deteriorating and in the selection trial conducted to select the under-19 team, the quality of players was not “so good”.

Therefore, the TFA boys were the only option left, sources said.

Coach Carlton Chapman said there is an urgent need of reaching out to far-off places to spot and groom talents.

It is also necessary for the big tournament organisers to declare dates of the event well in advance, he said.

However, TFA chief Satish Pillai said: “It is not that we are not concentrating on other players of the districts. We are taking players from Jharkhand Sporting Association and school children and conducting camps in districts. But what is the harm if the state team takes TFA players?”