Football icon Bhaichung Bhutia has announced India’s largest-ever football trials aimed at identifying and nurturing young talent from across the country.
Starting this month, the nationwide talent hunt will span 50 cities, including Jalandhar, Patiala, Bhatinda, Chandigarh, Amritsar, Mysuru, Mangalore, Bangalore and Belgaum. The trials are set to see over 6,000 players between the ages of 9-18 showcasing their skills in front of AIFF/AFC-certified Coaches.
Organized by Bhaichung Bhutia Football Schools (BBFS), this initiative is a massive step towards building a robust football ecosystem in India. Through these trials, Bhutia aims to tap into the potential of youth from different regions, providing them with the opportunity to develop their skills at the BBFS Residential Academy.
Highlighting his vision for football development, Bhaichung Bhutia remarked, “Football in India needs a strong foundation, and that starts with youth development. Our mission is to create pathways for young footballers to rise through the ranks, whether they come from big cities or remote areas. Through these trials, we hope to find and develop India’s next football stars.”
The trials will be conducted in phases over seven months, with over 200 students participating in each city. Those selected will be offered the chance to train at BBFS, which has a strong track record of producing professional players who have gone on to represent the Indian National Team.
Players like Manbhakupar Malngiang, Lionel D Rymme, Bonifilia Shullai, Rohit Kumar, Deepika Pal, Wanshwa, Aryan Rathi, Anjana Thapa, Gaurav Bora had been part of BBFS and represented India or been part of the Indian camp.
With the BBFS Residential Academy as the backbone of this initiative, the selected players will have access to world-class training facilities, experienced coaches, and comprehensive development programs designed to maximize their potential. The academy serves as a springboard for players to eventually earn a spot on the Indian National Team.
The programme is powered by enJogoEnjogo which is India’s first full-stack sports learning platform, providing seamless online/offline sports training in Football (Bhaichung Bhutia Football Schools), Badminton (Prakash Padukone Residential Academy) and Tennis (Nandan Bal Tennis Academy).
