Calcutta: For the star of yesteryear Shyam Thapa, a new journey began on Saturday when he was named technical director of the newly-formed CC&FC Kesoram Academy.

The aim of the academy will be to identify and nurture young talent and help them develop as established footballers.

The non-residential academy will start with 50 youngsters. They will be divided into two groups. Former footballer Monojit Das will train 14 to 16-year-old boys. The other group will have trainees from 17 to 22 years.

The senior group would be participating in the Calcutta football league (2nd division) for CFC. Jamshid Nassiri will look after the senior team.

There will be medial insurance for all the footballers and they will also get a stipend.

Thapa sounded happy after taking the new charge on Saturday. "My aim is to spot young talent and enhance their football skills. I want to see football as a premier sport in the country," he said.

He added: "Our senior team is already selected. We are now looking for the junior lot. The trials are going on and we will finalise the bunch of boys within a month."

The president of CC&FC, Sunny Puri, and Kesoram Industries' secretary, Gautam Ganguly, were present at the press conference.