As many as 20 boys left Bhubaneswar today for a two-week-long training stint at Tata Football Academy (TFA) in Jamshedpur. This is an annual programme, being organized jointly by Tata Steel and Unit-VI Athletic Association (Bhubaneswar) for the past 10 years.
Spotted under this scheme, many young football talents of the state have gone on to play for the state, nation and some of the leading clubs of the country. Seikh Mustakin, Pankaj Sona, Seikh Rohit, Rajat Nag and Seikh Bilal are some among them.
LIST OF PLAYERS: Rakesh Dalai, Sisir Nayak, Nabin Hembram, Rajesh Naik (all Bhubaneswar); Sanjay Hembram, Gopal Hembram (both Balasore Sports Hostel); Suryakanta Majhi, Tophan Bhoi, Sekih Esas, Milan Behera (all Khurda); Sankhai Baskey, Bijaya Oram (both Sundargarh Sports Hostel); Amit Lakra, Pintu Samal, D Sanjay (all Nayagarh Sports Hostel); Sunil Das, Aurobinda Nayak, Asif Khan (all Cuttack); Pritam Chhechuan (Bolangir); Sarbajeet Nayak (Tigiria). Coach: Sudip Das; Manager: Saroja Moharana.