Srinagar, May 2: Scripting history yet again, the J&K Sports Council is once again gearing up to host twin camps for India U-17 National Team camp which is scheduled to participate in the SAFF U-17 Championship followed by AFC U-17 Championship Qualifiers in September and October respectively.
While thanking the J&K Sports Council and the Union Territory administration, a communique from the All-India Football Federation expressed its gratitude for hosting and providing the best possible facilities to the India U-16 National Team training camp in Srinagar last year in August. The team had trained under the tutelage of the renowned footballer of the J&K, Ishfaq Ahmad who was nominated as the head coach of the team for the SAFF U-16 Championship held at Thimphu, Bhutan in September 2023 wherein India U-16 team won the title. The initiatives and assistance received towards the development of Indian Football and the impact of National camps in J&K as an acclimatization had helped the team a great deal and earned applause from all corners.
The AIFF has requested for the arrangement of both lodging & boarding facilities, and transportation for a 42-member contingent comprising 35 players and 7 officials from the first week of June this year. To get the teams trained for the international events, Ishfaq Ahmed has been appointed as the Head Coach of the team.
The J&K earlier had a reputation of hosting the Santosh Trophy, Federation Cup and Hero I-League matches only but the venue due to several factors including the training and acclimatization factors is fast turning into the preferred location.