AIFF's open trial in Dubai bears fruit: 5 boys shortlisted to join India U-17 camp

AS A PART OF the large scale scouting operation launched to pick the best possible team for next year's FIFA U-17 World Cup which India will host, the AIFF recently held an open trial for U-16 boys holding Indian passports living in the UAE. After a thorough look-through, 5 players have been shortlisted to join the U-17 national team camp.

The trial was held on 10th and 11th June in Dubai, and more than 250 participants showed up at the event. Overseen by Abhishek Yadav, former player and the current AIFF Director of Scouting, the trialists went through multiple rounds of skill tests and in the end only Augustas Nixon, Neelakantan Anand, Arjun Sunil, Rixon Lobo and Yuveer Kelkar made the cut. 

About the shortlisted players, Abhishek Yadav said,

"We did an in-depth analysis of them and all of that displayed good potential. We also found a left footer in the squad and that is something which we look forward too. Overall, though it seems the boys have what it takes to play Football at the next level it all depends on them on how hard they work to achieve it."

The 5 players will join the U-17 national team camp in Germany where they will go through a further round of evaluations under head coach Nicolai Adam. If they hold up to those tests, the boys may get an opportunity to represent their country in the U-17 World Cup and become a part of a landmark event in the history of Indian football.

If deemed worthy, the new recruits may debut for the India U-16 team in the AFC U-16 Chapmpionship which takes place in India this September.