Six lads from Maharashtra selected for the Indian U-17 World Cup trials

by Kaushal Shukla July 6, 2015

Mumbai, July 5: After a one month long extensive selection process during the trials across Maharashtra, AIFF selectors and Under-17 Head Coach Nicolai Adams shortlisted 6 boys for the final trials to be conducted in Goa.

The criteria, for participating in the trials was simple, as only those boys born in the year 2000 were eligible. This was the first time that the trials were conducted state-wide at 9 different locations in Maharashtra. The venues where the trials were conducted were Mumbai, Latur, Aurangabad, Amravati, Nagpur, Pune, Kolhapur and Solapur. The final trials for for the shortlisted candidates from Maharashtra region was conducted at the Cooperage ground.

A total of 54 participants reported during the final rounds of trials. On the final day Nicolai Adam was present to prune down the numbers. The coach was really impressed with the work done by the regional scouts Arashad Hussain, Ireno Vaz, Augusto D’Silva and Ryan D’Souza.

“The regional scouts have really done a wonderful job with the selection process. I’m really impressed with the quality of the boys and all of them fit the guidelines set by me for the selection process. The journey was also tough on them travelling to multiple venues for almost a month is a tough ask and here I would like to thank the efforts of the State association as well to give this such a huge shape, they are taking their football seriously,” mentioned Nicolai Adam.

“Trust me it is a tough job short-listing candidates who are on par with each other. But here we have to keep looking and choose the best for the team,” informed Adams, who after a 3 day long process trimmed the list to 6 boys.

“It’s a very proud moment for us, we hope all of these boys make it to the Indian team,” hoped Souter Vaz, Hon. Secretary, WIFA. “The trials were conducted in the best possible manner across the state. It was an open affair anyone who can kick a football and meet the age criteria could have taken part. This time the trials were also well publicized for amassing maximum participation. Around 1000 kids participated in the trials, this number is really encouraging,” said Vaz.

The shortlisted boys: Aniket Anil Jadhav (Kolhapur), Saurabh Meher, Manav Baraskar, Gaston D’Silva, Sameer Kashyap, Meet Jain (all Mumbai).