Asia U16 Champions Trophy:AIFF XI to begin campaign on May 17 against Malaysia Team

 All India Football Federation’s U-16 Kalyani Regional Academy will be among the twelve Teams who will lock horns for top honours in the 2^nd edition of the Asia U-16 Champions Trophy 2014, which would be played on a home and away basis.

The AIFF Academy boys begin their campaign in a Group A away-match against Frenz Harimau Muda, Malaysia on May 17, 2014. Besides, the others Teams in the Group are Frenz United, Indonesia; PVF FA, Vietnam; Timor Leste U-16 National Team and Home United SC, Singapore; while  Defending Champions Chonburi FC, Thailand; Frenz United, Malaysia; Lao Toyota FC; Guangdong FA, China; Mandalay Academy FC, Myanmar and Phnom Penh Crown FC, Cambodia comprise Group B.

The Participating Teams have been divided into two Groups of six Teams each where they would be playing against each other on a home and away format. The top two from each Group then proceed to the Semis which would also be played on a Home and Away format along with the third-place play-off and even the Final.

The Tournament was officially launched at the Paradigm Mall in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday (May 7) afternoon. It was preceded by a Technical Workshop involving participants from all the 12 Teams.

The Champions would go back richer by USD 100000 while the runners-up will pocket USD 25000; while the 3^rd and the 4^thplaced-Teams would be awarded USD 10000 and USD 5000 respectively.

Besides, there would be separate Awards for the most valuable Player of the Tourament (USD 2500) and the Award for the Golden Boot (USD 2500).

Head Coach Gautam Ghosh said the format of the Tournament would be a “wonderful experience for his boys.”

“The boys would get to play in five different Countries, that too on a home and away format. I would like to thank AIFF for providing us this opportunity. Such a Championship would further enhance the overall development of the boys,” he told www.the-aiff.com.

“In a Youth Development setup, results stay immaterial. But tell me, leaving out AFC age-group Tournaments, when did ever an Indian Team, that too an U-16 bunch of boys, get such an opportunity? This only depicts AIFF’s seriousness to give exposure to our boys,” he stated. “Our boys are very excited to be a part of the Asian Champions Trophy.”

Frenz United Football Club President Dato Noor Ihsan said they are “waiting eagerly” for AIFF XI to play in the Tournament.

“After the success of the first edition we felt we need to approach others Teams as well. Hence, we looked to the East and roped in a Team from China and when we looked westwards, we just couldn’t look beyond India. We are waiting eagerly for the AIFF Academy boys to play,” he told www.the-aiff.com.

The AIFF Academy boys would play all their Home Matches at the Barasat Stadium under the lights. The matches on May 24, May 31 and June 21 would also be telecast live on DD Sports.

AIFF XI'S FIXTURES:

May 17 (Away): vs Frenz Harimau Muda, Malaysia

May 24 (Home): vs Frenz United, Indonesia (Live on DD Sports)

May 31 (Home): vs PVF Vietnam (Live on DD Sports)

June 11 (Home): vs Frenz, Harimau Muda, Malaysia

June 14 (Away): vs Home United, Singapore

June 21 (Home): vs Home United, Singapore

June 28 (Away): vs PVF, Vietnam

July 5 (Away): vs Frenz United, Indonesia

July 12 (Away): vs Timor Leste National Team

July 19 (Home): vs Timor Leste National Team