Ravi Kumar

Jamshedpur, June 29: Tata Football Academy (TFA) cadet Ravi Kumar is all set to play in the Indian League premier division.

The 17-year-old goalkeeper will sign an eight-month contract with the All India Football Federation (AIFF), which is fielding its own team in the Indian League.

Ravi, a probable for the Asian Games, will have for company six former TFA cadets who have been selected by the national soccer body.

They are currently in Delhi honouring their contracts with the AIFF and are also shortlisted for the Asian Games to be held in Guangzhou, China from November 12 to November 27.

TFA qualified for the senior division league around five years ago. However, the academy management decided not to participate as the cadets were too young and not ready for challenges of a professional tournament.

The TFA management was also not keen to disturb the functioning of the academy by signing professional players.

“However, Ravi’s case is different. He’s still a junior but has been included in the 24-member AIFF team for the premier division of the Indian League. It’s a big thing for a boy who is yet to complete his tenure in the TFA which ends in 2012,” an official said.

Hailing from Shahjahanpur in Uttar Pradesh, Ravi joined TFA in November 2008. He has not looked back since. Described as a hard worker, officials said Ravi was also a good listener.

While expressing happiness over Ravi’s inclusion in the AIFF outfit, TFA officials said it was a positive development.

“Ravi’s position in the academy will not be affected. He will complete his tenure here irrespective of his playing in the league. We can’t interfere in the workings of the national soccer body,” said M.R. Bhalla, senior manager of TFA.

The six former TFA cadets, have signed for different professional clubs. They may have to seek no-objection certificates from their respective employers because most of them have taken advances from their clubs and are bound by contracts.