15-Jul-2008 105
Cuttack-based Rohit Football Academy (RFA) returned home today after delivering a descent performance in the Yakut Danone Nations Cup Under-12 Boys Football Festival at New Delhi last week. RFA beat formidable Tata Football Academy (Jamshedpur) 2-1 in their opening group-D match. But the Cuttack side suffered a 0-3 defeat at the hands of Kolkata giants Mohun Bagan to bow out of the title contention.
According to RFA founder Amarendra Singh, Mohun
Bagan went on to win the tournament, defeating Hindustan Lever Academy (New Delhi) and Sikkim Football Academy in the semifinal and final respectively. With this win Mohun Bagan qualified to represent India in the Under-12 World Cup Festival to be held at Paris from September 5 to 7.
Altogether 12 teams from across the country participated in the New Delhi qualifying tournament, which has been introduced by International Football Federation (FIFA) with an aim to develop the game at the grassroots level. "Matches upto semifinals were 15-minute affairs, while the final was extended to 20 minutes," said RFA coach Sukanta Dutta Ray. "A team of coaches and fitness trainers from France conducted skill tests, quiz contests and inter-active sessions before and during the tournament," he added.
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