Mumbai, April 27, 2017
As desired by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt. of India, an Under – 19 Football tournament will be jointly organised by the Central Armed Police Forces (CRPF, BSF, CISF, SSB, ITBP and Assam Rifles) in India, under the aegis of All India Police Sports Control Board. The tournament will be called the “OORJA – CAPF Youth Under – 19 Football talent hunt Tournament – 2017 – A PM Initiative.
India is proudly hosting FIFA Under – 17 World Cup from 6th October 2017 to 28th October 2017. While emphasizing on the successful hosting of the event, the Hon’ble Prime Minister has said that this alone cannot be our final objective. FIFA Under 17 World Cup must be a catalyst for change, the tipping point for football in the country, which can only be done by creating a mass movement around it.
All CAPF (Central Armed Police Forces) have been asked to conduct the Oorja – CAPF Youth Under- 19 tournament in different parts of the country, CISF is conducting the tournament in the States of Maharasthra, Goa, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and in the Union territories of Delhi, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Daman & Diu.
The Objectives of the tournament are -To be a part of Mission XI million ( a school contact initiative), to create fervour for football among all the youth of India, to select promising players to represent our country in Asian Championship, to recruit young and emerging players the CAPF.
The opening ceremony is scheduled to be held on 2nd May 2017 at Cooperage Football Ground, Colaba, Mumbai. League cum knockout matches will be held from 2nd May 2017 to 09th May
His Excellency, the Governor of Maharashtra Shri Ch. Vidyasagar Rao, has kindly consented to be the Chief Guest for opening ceremony which will be held on 2nd May, 2017 at Cooperage Football Stadium, M K Road, Mumbai. The tournament will be held on league cum knockout basis from 2nd May 2017 to 09th May 2017 for boys and girls at JNPT Sheva Stadium and RCFL Stadium, Chembur respectively.
The closing ceremony of this tournament is also scheduled to be held at Cooperage Football Ground, Colaba, Mumbai on 09th May 2017. Shri Sudhir Mungantiwar, Hon’ble Minister of Finance, Planning & Forest, Govt of Maharashtra will be the Chief Guest for closing ceremony. The winner of the tournament in each category i.e. Boys and Girls shall be awarded SHANKAR SUBRAMANIAM NARAYAN Trophy for boys and Shankar Subramaniam Narayan Trophy for girls under – 19 teams.