Calcutta: The Indian Football Association (IFA) is planning to introduce an under-16 league from next season.
Announcing this during the association’s annual prize distribution ceremony, held at Mahajati Sadan on Saturday, IFA secretary Subrata Dutta urged all local clubs to form the under-16 teams to make the new league a success.
“The IFA is the only state association to have a nursery league (under-13) in place. The new league will, thus, help these young players to carry on in competitive football once they attain the age of 14,” Dutta said.
Speaking on the occasion, Padmashree Sailen Manna stressed on the need to pluck talent from interior regions.
According to the veteran international, the IFA should send scouts in rural Bengal in search of promising youngsters.
“Once such talents are identified, the IFA should pick and nurture them properly. In this way the game in the state will be benefited,” felt the 79-year-old Manna.
East Bengal club secretary Kalyan Majumdar arrived only rather late for the prize distribution. East Bengal got their Super Division winners’ trophy and a cheque of Rs 2 lakh. Mohun Bagan, who emerged the runners-up, took home Rs 1 lakh.
THE AWARD-WINNERS
Super Division ? Winners: East Bengal, Runners-up: Mohun Bagan. First Division A ? Winners: SAIL, Runners-up: Calcutta Customs. First Division B ? Winners: Janbazar SA, Runners-up: Garalgacha SA. Second Division ? Winners: Calcutta Police, Runners-up: Batore SA. Third Division ? Winners: Mayuri SA, Runners-up: Taltala DS. Fourth Division: Winners: Rainbow SA, Runners-up: Nivedita Club. Fifth Division (A) ? Winners: WB United Club, Runners-up: Star Sporting Club. Fifth Division (B) ? Winners: COX, Runners-up: WB Association of Deaf. State league ? Winners: Hooghly DSA, Runners-up: East Midnapore. Women’s league ? Winners: WB Income Tax, Runners-up: Sarojini Naidu OCS. Nursery Division: Winners: Aryan Club, Runners-up: N. 24 Pgs. Elliott Shield ? Winners: Heramba Chandra College, Runners-up: Asutosh College. Bankim Cup ? Winners: Sukantanagore Vidyaniketan, Runners-up: Agarpara Mahajati Uchcha Vidyalaya. S.A. Roy club meet ? Winners: Narayanpur United (N. 24 Ps), Runners-up: Debagram Storage Corner (Nadia). Sr. district meet ? Winners: Siliguri MKP, Runners-up: Hooghly DSA. Jr. district meet ? Winners: N. 24 Pgs DSA, Runners-up: Malda DSA. Sub-jr district meet ? Winners: S. 24 Pgs DSA, Runners-up: Manbhum SA. Best Referee award (national) ? Debashish Mishra.
