Two-day scouting camp for U-17 WC team concludes in capital

Keeping in mind the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2017 India next year, the All India Football Federation revamped the U-15 Youth League to the U-16 Youth League to setup an efficient scouting network. With each of the Clubs in the U-16 Youth league being invited to send in three of their best Players, the AIFF is leaving no stone unturned to scout talent.

The two-day scouting camp in the Capital, which concluded today, (November 23, 2016), saw enthusiastic participation from some of the top talents in the Nation.

AIFF’s Director of Scouting and former Indian International Abhishek Yadav agrees and believes that the Scouting Camps will not only help identify talent, but will act as a value addition to the U-17 World Cup Squad by expanding the base of the Player pyramid structure.

Speaking to www.the-aiff.com on the sidelines of the Scouting Camp in the Capital, Yadav said, “Some of our Players in the U-17 World Cup Squad have been found out through scouting and we have to unearth talent in order to add to the ranks of the Indian squad”

“There is no dearth of talent in the Nation and through this Scouting network we ensure that every part of the Country is touched”

“Every stakeholder plays an important role when we host the FIFA U-17 World Cup next year and it is the onus of the Clubs to send us their best Players so we can take a look at them”, he added.

When inquired about his plans for the shortlisted Players in scouting, Yadav stated, “We will shortlist Players who we feel will suit the setup of the Indian U-17 World Cup Squad. It will be upto the discretion of the Head Coach (Nicolai Adam) if the shortlisted Players are good enough to play for the National Team or not”

50 Players were called for the first day of the Scouting Camp in the Capital and on the second day the number was trimmed down to just 25. “We are searching for quality not quantity. The Players need to be gifted technically if they are to catch our eye”, Yadav justified.

“We will scout vigorously for talent in the Nation. We will leave no stone unturned to find potential”

“We need to put up our best face of the Indian U-17 World Cup Squad in the FIFA World Cup next year and through Scouting we can ensure that”, Yadav informed.

The third phase of the Scouting through the U-16 Youth League will commence at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Fatorda, Goa next on November 25 and 26, 2016.

“The Clubs who were unable to send in their Players for the first two Camps can send their Players for the Camp in Goa. We will be cooperating with the Clubs for efficient setup of the Scouting network”, Yadav added.

Image: AIFF media