League Cum Knockout Tournament To Take Place In Bellary; Sreenidi Deccan FC, FC Madras Among Newcomers

Bengaluru: Bengaluru FC, on Wednesday, announced the return of the JSW Youth Cup where the U13 and U15 BFC Academy teams will go head to head against four other sides in a League-cum-knockout format tournament, set to commence on April 14th.

“A tournament like the JSW Youth Cup is a great initiative because it gives us and our academy teams the opportunity to play competitive games against some of the best academies in the country. This tournament is also a good example of how India’s youth football could grow with more and better tournaments for the best players in the country. All we want is to help top youth football grow to international level so the Indian national teams can benefit from this. I’m sure this will be a great success,” said Blues’ Head of Youth Development, Jan van Loon.

Sreenidi Deccan FC, Jamshedpur FC, RoundGlass Punjab FC will join the Young Blues in both age categories, with FC Madras and Reliance Youth Foundation the fifth team in the U13 and U15 age groups respectively.

Both BFC Academy teams have their opening clashes scheduled against Sreenidi Deccan FC, with teams placed first and second on the League table set to square up against the third and fourth placed teams for a spot in the final. The summit clash for the U15s is scheduled to take place on the 26th of April for the U15s and on the 27th of April for the U13s. 

In exciting news for the BFC Youth Development program, as many as five players from the Bengaluru FC U13 Day Boarding squad have been integrated into the roster for the JSW Youth Cup. Mohammed Ryyan Siddique, Rohan Manirama, Arvin Palatt Chirakkara, Nithin Badri and Himaghna Sanyal, who have turned out in various age groups for the Bengaluru-based squad, will make the trip to Bellary for the tournament.

Himaghna, who has teamed up with the Residential Academy squad, marks a third progression, having made it through from the BFC Soccer Schools Elite Team into the Day Boarding U13 team, and now the U13 BFC Academy squad.

BFC U13 squad

Goalkeepers: Mohammad Ryyan Siddique

Defenders: Akshit Arya, Taranvir Singh Jaspal, Advaith Sajithkumar Nair, Sanjai S, Raed, Rohan Manirama, Nithin Badri, 

Midfielders: Mauryan Bhagwat, Aranyak Maitra, Shreyas N Patil, Yajas Bafna,Thiyam Sambay

Forwards: Joel Joe Sudarshan, Aaryvardhan Kakde, Jermey Bijoy, Himaghna Sanyal, Arvin Palatt Chirakkara

BFC U15 squad

Goalkeepers: Narengbam Rohen Singh, Sahil Rahul Awate

Defenders: Ningthoujam Newton Singh, Manav Gowda, Shreyaj Manchoji, Aalhaad Hate, Sehtajjit Singh, Niwash Limbu

Midfielders: Puinachandra Kangjam, Aarav Gharat, Chinmay Shivashenker, Rajdip Saha, Kevinstone Thangkiew

Attackers: Cyrus Abhilash, Muhammed Zahan, Ishan Chatur, Miran Kaping, Sehajvir Singh, Neehang Subba