Anantapur Sports Academy Boys selected for Hyderabad based 2nd Division i-League Team

A dream come true for Anantapur Sports Academy boys after getting selected for Hyderabad based Second Division i-League side

Author of the Post: Maxon Sequeira

The boys from Anantapur arrived in Hyderabad at a well maintained, grassy Saraswati Cricket  round,the last place they would expect to be the venue for their football selection trials, for a chance to realize their long cherished dream - an opportunity to play for and represent an upcoming 2nd Division I-League Club based out of Hyderabad, that is set to debut this upcoming season.

RDT Anantapur Sports Academy U-15 had their trials from
6PM, Friday

Six Under-15 players from Rural Development Trust’s (RDT) Anantapur Sports Academy (ASA) set out for their selections accompanied by a senior player of the team, who was appointed by the RDT coaches to accompany them during this outing. The 15 Under-18 and 7 Under-20 boys were however, accompanied by their Head Coach Miquel Llado and Assistant Head Coach, P Vijayabhaskar. The selection trials took place on two separate days - the first with the U-15 selections taking place on Friday, 14th August, 2015 and the next for the U-18 and U-20 boys scheduled on the evening of Sunday, 16th August, 2015.

Upon their arrival for the selection trials, the boys were greeted by chief selector Yogesh Maurya and his team of 8 coaches, along with about 700 more boys who journeyed from far and wide in India to take a shot at the coveted I-League spots.

RDT Anantapur Sports Academy(ASA) U-18 players
had their trials from 6 PM on Sunday

The trials for the U-15 boys began at 6 PM on Friday while the U-18 trials took place on Sunday at 6 PM, followed by the U-20 boys at 8 PM. The format that Mr. Maurya and his team followed was very simple, divide the boys into smaller groups and play 5v5 or 7v7 games for 20 minutes each, with just one simple instruction, "Go and enjoy yourselves".

The selectors were looking to spot genuine talent, with the right technical knowledge of the game. They were looking for boys not just with good skill, but also with the aptitude of various strategies and possession plays. The chief selector, Mr. Maurya, was pleasantly surprised and impressed. He made his way to speak to Miquel Llado, ASA Football’s Head Coach, starting the conversation with the words "I Love Your Players".

The U-20 Team had their trials scheduled at 8PM on Sunday

The selection trials were expertly held, with quality training equipment and smooth organisation, as well as the depth of knowledge and keen interest shown by the selecting coaches. The ASA boys thoroughly enjoyed the experience as well as the learning in such a new environment and atmosphere, while simultaneously cherishing their new found confidence.

Miquel Llado, ASA’s Head coach, told us, "We are happy because the club that these boys are set to represent in the I-League already has an academy with Under 13, 15, 18 and 20 years age-group teams, apart from their main side, and are looking to set up a full-fledged structure that will be part of the upcoming I-League roster. Its launch is scheduled on the 3rd of September, with a press conference bringing Hyderabad and our boys from Anantapur to the Indian football scene with a bang".

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About Debraj Banerjee

Hi, I am Debraj Banerjee from Adra, West Bengal. A keen follower of Indian football and always an optimist that the game will get the recognition it truely deserves. What we ask from you is your support and one day the dream might turn true. Fingers crossed for Indian football. Cheers!

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