Aspiring Beckhams and Ronaldinhos from the hinterland strove to play their best shot at the opening day of Tata Steel CSR Under-10 football tournament at Armoury Ground in Bistupur, Jamshedpur, on Thursday.

The two-day event organised by Tata Steel Rural Development Society (TSRDS) is a match-cum-selection trial for about 800 boys, mostly tribals, in Under-10 and Under-14 slots from 62 soccer outfits in Jharkhand, Odisha and Bengal.

The boys will play before a Sports Authority of India (SAI) coach, who will select 20-22 boys for induction into the Army Boys Sports Company (ABSC), a sports institute of the Indian Army's Bihar regiment in Danapur.

Amit Tirkey, head (empowerment), TSRDS, said matches for Under-10 and Under-14 have been lined up for the tournament. "There are boys who were inducted in our training centres when they were aged below 10. Now they have grown and are part of the event. They have an opportunity to get army jobs," he said.

SAI coach K.K. Roy said he was hugely impressed with the presence of so many boys at the Armoury grounds. "I have never seen so many boys at one venue. I am sure of picking up some good talents," he said.

He said SAI and ABSC had tied up to run the training centre in Danapur. "I have been sent here by SAI to pick boys for the cradle. I will select 20-22 boys for Under-12," Roy said.

The boys will be called to Danapur for a screening, comprising medical test, age verification, skill and fitness exams, from March 20 to 24.

"Those who clear tests will get into the ABSC, which will take care of their training and education. The boys will stay at ABSC for five years and be absorbed into the army."

Two boys from Jharkhand, Sabi Murmu and Jairam Hembrom, were part of the ABSC.

"The duo are now in the India camp for Under-17 World Cup. Arjun Tudu, an ABSC alumnus from Jharkhand, is an army havildar and will be promoted as subedar next year. Tudu captained the Services team and helped win Santosh Trophy last year," Roy said.