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What's the story?
Bengaluru FC have recently launched a reserve side which is set to participate in the 2nd Division League, conducted by the All India Football Federation, apart from the upcoming BDFA Bengaluru Super Division, and will also participate in other all-India level tournaments.
The Blues are the first team to officially announce their reserve side and the desire to play in the I-League 2nd Division. FC Pune City are also one of the few Indian Super League franchises who are interested to field a reserve side in the I-League 2nd Division.
The reserve side is an array of young talents scouted across the country along with their Academy Products. The side also features transferred talents like Edmund Lalrindika who is groomed by AIFF at its regional academy.
In case you don't know
The All India Football Federation has reportedly changed the format of I-League 2nd Division from this year as several reports claim that the league would be now reduced to a one-venue tournament which is yet to be seen.
The All India Football Federation has also called for active participation of Indian Super League reserve sides. Reports suggest that the reserve sides won't be allowed to qualify to the next round.
The heart of the matter
Bengaluru FC have announced a 28-man reserve squad which has been practising at the Bengaluru Football Stadium, the inaugural venue of the Blues in I-League 2013-14. The squad will be led by AFC Pro-License holder Naushad Moosa.
The reserve side has been launched to reduce the gap between Academy graduates along with scouted talents and the senior team.
While two graduates, Leon Augustine and Prashanth Kalinga, from the inaugural batch of BFC’s Residential Academy in Bellary, have been drafted into the squad, seven exciting players from the India U-19 set-up have also been signed. These youngsters, along with six other BFC Academy players who are part of BFC ‘B’, are eligible to represent the Blues in the U18 I-League.
The squad is as follows :
Goalkeepers: Shainkhan Chilappuram, Aditya Patra, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Jaffer Mondal
Defenders: Asheer Akthar, B. Lalnuntluanga, Shahabaaz, Prashant Kalinga, Namgyal Bhutia, Amal Das KR, V. Lalengzama
Midfielders: Myron Mendes, Suman Sarkar, Kyntiewshaphrang Kharlukhi (Keke), Sk. Azaruddin, Robinson Khumukcham, Bidyananda Singh, Ajay Chhetri, Shelton Paul, Lalrinfela, Biswa Kumar Darjee, Leon Augustine, Naorem Roshan Singh
Forwards: Edmund Lalrindika, Parag Shrivas, Cletus Paul, Daniel Lalhlimpuia, Kishori
Author's Take
Bengaluru FC have once again shown the way for other Indian clubs as to how to produce a professional setup. The reserve team would allow ample opportunities for youngsters to prove their mettle with the best in business and also get regular chances.
Presently, in the Indian football scenario, youngsters perish quickly due to lack of chances at the top level. Academy graduates show glimpses of brilliance in the youth leagues but seldom get the opportunity to show their mettle against the seniors. This was mainly due to the excess gap between the youth sides and the senior side.
This gap would now be filled with this great initiative by both Bengaluru FC and All India Football Federation which may lay a long-term platform of many footballers emerging from the Garden City and around.
