Jamshedpur, Jan 19: In what could be termed as a rare honour for the Tata Football Academy (TFA), two of its cadets — Jerry Zirasanga and Malswania — have found berths in the 11-member Asian All-Star football team for under-17 in the year 2002-03. Both the cadets are at present with the TFA team playing the IFA Shield in Calcutta.

The TFA was informed about Zirasanga and Malswania’s inclusion in the star team by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), which selects the team. Both are expected to be honoured by the AFC in Kuala Lumpur, where it is headquartered. This is for the first time that such an honour has been bestowed on TFA cadets.

Zirasanga and Malswania (who is fondly called Mama by his fellow cadets and TFA

officials), both deft-footed strikers, hail from Mizoram and are cadets of the 2000 batch. “I am very happy after coming to know of the honour. It is because of their hard work and dedication that Zirasanga and Malswania have got the honour,” a beaming Satish Pillai, chief, TFA and Tata Steel sports told The Telegraph.

According to Pillai, the 11-member team is selected by the AFC based on the performance of footballers in Asia in a calendar year. “Both of our cadets have performed well and for them coming under the spotlight of the AFC was but natural,” he added. “Both are very disciplined and hard workers,” Pillai said.

He added that both Zirasanga and Malswania have matched AFC standard. Both were part of Indian under-17 team, which played an international tournament in Abu Dhabi last night. Both have a better understanding as they play in the same position — centre forward, Pillai said. “I think the honour would act as a tonic for them as the TFA clashed with a more fancied Churchill Brothers in the semi-finals of the IFA Sheild,” he added.

The TFA chief, who is keeping a tab on the TFA team, which has reached the semi-finals of the ongoing IFA Shield, said the TFA would honour both the cadets once they arrive in the city. “It is a rare honour for them and also for the TFA. They will definitely do well,” Pillai said. He added that the TFA also has a duty to honour cadets, who have won laurels for the academy.

Both Zirasanga and Malswania’s parents have already been informed about their offsprings’ feat. They were very glad and wanted to meet their sons as soon as possible, a TFA official said.

Both Zirasanga and Malswania’s parents came all the way from Mizoram for the induction ceremony of their sons in 2000. “They frequently call up their sons to know about their well-being,” a TFA official added.

The Asian All-Star team has been picked by the AFC, which monitors the performance of footballers throughout the year. “It is an honour to boost the moral of the young footballers,” Pillai said. He added that the AFC also selects all-star teams from different age groups.

Freshers erupted in joy as soon as the news of Zirasanga and Malswania’s selections reached the office here. “The honour would make us work much harder. It is like a tonic. We are very happy,” said a cadet. They added they would celebrate in their own manner once both the footballers arrived from Calcutta.