CHANDIGARH, SEPT 8 :If the things moved according to plan, the seventh edition of the Administrator’s Challenge Cup Football Tournament for Under-17 will become an international affair. In an informal chat Chandigarh Sports Director-cum-Additional Deputy Commisisoner Inderjit Singh Sandhu said that teams from neighbouring countries, namely Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka would be invited to the next tournament."
The Administrator’s Challenge Cup has already become a national level tournament with participation of leading states and football academies.
Sandhu disclosed that it was on the initiative of Punjab Governor General (Retd) SF Rodrigues, who is also Administrator of Chandigarh, that the prize money had been introduced this year itself while the Sports Department was planning to make a prize money tournament from next year.
"Gen Rodrigues’ initiative of introducing prize money is a big initiative and the report received by the Sports Department suggests that more teams have already shown their interest to participate in the future Administrator’s Challenge Cup," the Sports Director said.
Besides, the glittering trophy, the winners will be presented a cheque of Rs 50,000 by the Adviser to the Chandigarh Administrator, Pradip Mehra, tomorrow after the final. The runners-up team will get a paycheque of Rs 25,000.
CFA SHOWING GREAT DETERMINATION: Meanwhile, the Chandigarh Football Academy trainees are showing determination and their skills despite sailing in two boats situation. The CF Academy have qualified for the final of the Administrator’s Challenge Cup in Chandigarh and at the same time, they have qualified for the next phase of the Subroto Cup in New Delhi.
Today they played their 11th match in last seven days. They have travelled more than 2000 km in last seven days. On certain days, the CFA boys were scheduled to play two matches, one in Subroto Cup in New Delhi and the other in the Administrator’s Challenge Cup in Chandigarh.
"Despite this hardship, the boys have not shown any slackness in their approach. They are bubbling and bustling despite scoring 32 goals in Chandigarh and 24 in Subroto Cup. They have conceded only two goals in two tournaments so far. This is all because of the efforts of the CFA trainees. They are tremendously rising to the occasion.," said coach Tejinder Kumar.
"We are managing the things systematically. According to the demand of the situation, I tried to give proper rest to the main players. Some used to get rest in Delhi and the others in Chandigarh. I am trying my best to keep their morale high. The Sports Department is also taking extra care as the players are provided all possible facilities. Juice etc are served to the players in the bus itself," said Tejinder Singh, former Indian footballer who is fully aware of the requirments of a football player.
"Hard training in Egedius Brawn Sports School at Leipzig (Germany) is proving them good and furitful," said Tejinder Kumar who had accompanied the players in Germany for training-cum-competition.
Director of Egedius Brawn Sports School at Leipzig, Andre Khun is here to maintain continuity in the training programe of the CFA boys.
Khun watched the CFA’s semi-final match against Indian Football Association of Kolkata. He discussed certain points with IS Sandhu. Khun will also be doing evaluation during the training and competition and the final assessment of each trainee will handed over to the Sports Director.
Meanwhile, the Sector 17 Football Stadium will under go a massive renovation so that it is fit to host national and international football matches.