As many as 30 kids were present at the All India Football Federation's (AIFF) scouting programme under its talent hunt scheme director Abhishek Yadav here on Monday.
It was the first of the three scheduled camps that the AIFF will undertake throughout the country, as per a release.
The AIFF is conducting these programmes to unearth fresh talent ahead of the U-17 World Cup to be hosted by India next year.
The scouting programme is being conducted under the supervision of ex-national team captain Yadav.
"We kicked off the 3-leg scouting programme in Kalyani and I must say, we're off to a great start. Most of the clubs sent their players and they were quite impressive on the pitch", Yadav told www.the-aiff.com on Monday.
All the eastern zone teams who are contesting in the ongoing U-16 Youth League were asked by the AIFF to send three players for the camp and 30 turned up.
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"We had organised 11 vs 11 matches against the U-18 team of United Sports Club and another local team. We ensured that our boys played against an elder team. This gruelling test will make them technically better and superior in the coming days."
"Following the programme, we zeroed in on two boys who have the capability to join the U-17 team in Goa," Yadav added.
The second camp is slated to take place in New Delhi on Tuesday and Wednesday.
All the northern India clubs are expected to nominate their wards for the Delhi-leg of the camps.
The clubs who couldn't send their players to Kalyani are free to send their wards to subsequent camps in Delhi and Goa.
"We found that some Kolkata-based clubs and one Shillong-based club didn't turn up in Kalyani. We earnestly request them to send their boys to Delhi or Goa, depending on their convenience," Yadav said.
"There's no hard and fast rule on the geographical location. At the end of the day, we are all looking forward to the best possible combination for the upcoming U-17 World Cup."
--IANS
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