Chennai: Expectations are high in football circles on Chennai United FC’s School Premier League, which is set to start in three grounds in the city coming week. Fourteen schools have been divided into two groups and two teams from each pool will advance to the semifinals after a round-robin league. All matches would be conducted in weekends.
Knock-out tournaments spread over a day or two are plenty in Chennai but a league for schools never materialised.
The Chennai Football Association should have been at the forefront of new initiatives but the body is in coma as an ad-hoc committee has been administering it for the last four years. Be that as it may, as it’s an open secret that sports associations in Tamil Nadu are embodiment of ineptitude and infighting.
Many people are hoping that the schools league will be a success. A strong foundation is imperative in any endeavour. It’s all the more important in football that lacks a structure at grassroots level. The School Premier League for U-14 boys has the ingredients to become a blast of fresh air.
Former India player Syed Sabir Pasha welcomed the league. “It’s an excellent step. I would like the organisers to ensure that all the participants are below 14 years. The league will lose its significance if over-aged players are not weeded out. The tournament shouldn’t become a platform for age cheats,” he said.
Sabir said the organisers should take efforts to find out violators. “The date of birth of every player must be verified with the help of Chennai corporation’s website, which is maintained well these days. I know it’s a time-consuming process but there is no other alternative,” he added.
The Indian Bank coach urged Chennai United to develop infrastructure to keep their school project going. “Boys get dejected if there is no activity after the league. I feel it’s always better to have something concrete in place before starting a tournament,” he said.
Raman Vijayan, another former India player, complimented Chennai United for a “constructive” grass-roots work.
“The league, which is long overdue, will give exposure to school children. Football is fast losing its tag of being a poor man’s game in Chennai, as more and more rich boys are taking up the sport. Youngsters need the involvement of professional clubs to dream big. If Chennai United take the best from the league under their wings, it would represent continuity. The club should devise long-term plans,” he said.
According to Vijayan, Chennai United’s plan to create profiles of all players on the net is a great idea. “It would be useful to all parties concerned — players, parents, schools and the media,” he added.
Robin Charles Raja, coach of Hindustan Eagles, said the league is a “beautiful” concept.
“Football is getting as big as cricket in Chennai schools. So the league is a step in the right direction. I know Varun of Chennai United. He is passionate about football. Varun has done his homework for the league, which, I’m sure will be a great success. I hope the organisers have plans in place for the next stage as well,” he added.
Tamil Nadu finishes third at national tennikoit
Tamil Nadu claimed third place in the 38th senior national tennikoit championship for men and women held at Jagpur, Odisha from December 22 to 26.
The TN men winners team comprised S. Vignesh Karuguvel, E. Arivazhagan, G. Thiruganam, P. Murugesan, V. Jesudoss and S. Silambarasan.
The TN women’s team that finished fourth consisted of U. Madhubala, R. Viveka, M. Shobana, K. Gayathri, L. Monika and Rajeshwari. In the mixed doubles G. Thiruganam and M. Shobana finished runners-up while in the men’s doubles V. Jesudoss and P. Murugesan settled for the second place.
Tushar excels in Khan’s CA win
Khan’s CA ‘A’ earned a thrilling nine-run win against Sankara CA in the CCCA-Future star U 13 tournament on Sunday. In a low-scoring match H. Aadithya Narayanan’s vital 31 made all the difference in the end. M. Tushar delivered the goods with the ball under trying circumstances by picking three wickets. For the defeated team B. Ram Narayanan (25) resisted for a while even as wickets kept tumbling at the other end.
Brief scores: Khan’s CA ‘A’ 133/4 in 20 overs (H. Aadithya Narayanan 31, Shravan Narayanan 3/25) bt Sankara CA 124/9 in 20 overs (B. Ram Narayanan 25, M. Tushar 3/19).
Selena, Yashini clinch gold
Tamil NaÂdu sub-junior girls team won the doubles gold in the 75th sub-junior and cadet national and inter-state table tennis championship held at Ajmer. S. Selena DeeÂpthi and S. Yashini of Tamil Nadu defeated Nina and Shylu of Andhra PradeÂsh in straight games 11-7, 11-5, 12-10.
Aadithya stars in FSCA win
Brief scores of KRS-FSCA cricket tournament: FSCA ‘B’ 159/7 in 30 overs (Aadithya Naresh 90, T.E. Krishna 27) lost to Adambakkam C.A 160/1 in 21.5 overs (Vignesh S Iyer 32, R. Yash 61*, S. Ricky Praveen 40*); SSCA 109 in 18 overs (Dhanush 56, B. Raghav 4/6, D. Dinesh Kumar 3/24) lost to Prahlad CA 110/2 in 22.1 overs (V. Prassana Hari 25*).
Thamaraiselvi wins
P. Thamaraiselvi of Velammal won the Rachel Paranjothy chess tournament with eight points (out of nine rounds) for women held at Ethiraj College on Sunday. Both Thamaraiselvi and overnight leader J. Janani were tied for the first position but a better tie-break score gave Thamaraiselvi the chance to clinch the title and the winner’s prize of Rs 5,000.
Final standings: 1. P. Thamaraiselvi, 2. J. Janani, 3. M. Sandya, 4. S. Kavya, 5. C.R. Varsha.
