They outperformed at least 50 top players from different states of India in the selection trials to confirm their berth in the SAIL Football Academy at Kolkata. Three budding soccer players -Sahbar Nabi, Feroze Ahmad Bhat and Imaan Bhat – from valley are among five out of 50 contenders from India who made it to the academy.
Playing with the local clubs of the valley they had never thought of rubbing shoulders with the top young players who occasionally represent U-17 soccer team for India.
Football Players Welfare Association (FPWA) played an instrumental role in facilitating the selection trials for the trio for the SAIL football academy. After spending three months with the leading football academy in the football hub of India, Kolkata, the footballers feels they a proud lot.
“The berth in the football academy has proved the turning point of our career. Now we are hopeful of our bright future in football,” they said who are back on vacation.
After playing with the professional footballers, the young soccer players have realized their potential which according to them would take them to higher standards of the football.
“It was unbelievable to play with the top footballers of India at this age. I will work hard to break into the Indian squad. We have talent which we could not realize earlier,” said Sahbar Nabi.
His friend, Feroze seconds Nabi’s aspirations saying their dreams can come true and “we will touch new heights”.
“We have played with many local clubs here in Kashmir. We worked hard but that would not have given us chance to play with the top players. Our state needs the football academies badly which can improve the standard of the football,” said Feroze.
They players said they are under the tutelage of top Indian coaches.
“It is a great privilege to be under the supervision of top qualified coaches. We have learnt a lot which would help us move ahead in our football career,” said he.
“They lay more importance on physical fitness and also inform us about various game plannings and strategies. “After every match, the coaches and players sit together and discuss all the flaws that we may undergo in the game and try to work on them,” he added.
While as Imaan Bhat-the third footballer who is now part of the SAIL football academy-was overwhelmed with the sports infrastructure besides other facilities at academy.
“SAIL academy has everything of its own to chisel the young talent into a professional footballer who can later represent India.” said Imaan.
The trio is looking forward to get berth into the final squad of the academy for the upcoming Kolkutta league and other mega tournaments.
“This would be the toughest time for us so far in the academy. Now, we have to display our mettle by registering berth in team. Right now, berth in the team for league is our main focus,” they said.
According to them they have to compete in All India Trials with the most professional players of the nation.
The trio praised the efforts of FPWA for giving them platform to display their mettle at national level.
“We feel like we are ambassadors from Kashmir. FPWA made it possible for us and we got chance to realize our long term dreams,” they said.
The trio expressed their grief for poor situation of football in the valley, they said, “the football scenario of Kashmir is very poor, we lack academies like SAIL to hone talent at grass root level.”
They also thanked President FPWA Mehraj-ud-din Wadoo and Vice President Sajid Dar for lending supportive hand to local talent.
Meanwhile the Vice President Sajid Dar said their stay in SAIL is an achievement for Kashmir and also for FPWA.
“They are future assets of our state and the country also. FPWA seeks to facilitate talented footballers of the state join leading football academies of India,” said Dar adding, this is contribution from FPWA towards the football in Valley.
