HIDDEN GEMS: Teenage warriors that BFC have been brewing are ready to take charge

SINCE THEIR INCEPTION in 2013, Bengaluru FC immediately established themselves as the front-runners in the country's top division. They won the I-League in their inaugural season, won the Federation Cup next time and regained the I-League title in 2015-16, and started their 2016-17 season with a fairytale ascent to the AFC Cup final.

There's little doubt that the defending champions will enter the fray in this I-League season, but their on-field dominance is not the only thing that sets them apart. Ever since BFC started their journey, they have had a deep emphasis on youth development and grassroots. From last season they started picking up a number of promising young players on 5 year contracts, a long term investment in local talents that few others are showing in a footballing landscape where even established players have to live with one year contracts. 

It was Ashley Westwood himself who set Bengaluru FC on this path of bringing up prospects in-house and introducing them to first team football. Now, with a residential academy and other grassroot fully underway, the Blues have doubled down on this strategy, and their squad for I-League 2016-17 carries a number of such young players who are just finding their feet in the top division, and look set to have a long haul there.