Subroto can help AIFF

NEW DELHI: The All India Football Federation technical director Robert Baan has spelt out a broad master plan for the Indian team's preparation in the lead-up to the 2017 U-17 World Cup.
The Dutchman outlined that it was necessary to have a national-level tournament on three levels — state, schools and academy —to facilitate a proper talent identification process.
With players born on or after Jan 1, 2000 eligible for selection, it would be interesting to note how inclusive AIFF's coaching plans are and how broad their vision. While it has been suggested that a full-time development officer be appointed in football-interested states who oversees the scouting model, the TD can do well to take a leaf out the Subroto Cup schools concept – the only national-level schools tournament of this scale in running since 1960.
One which has regularly thrown up talent — among others, Bhaichung Bhutia in 1991 – the Subroto can be incorporated for the coming three years in a partnership with the AIFF to help scout talent from the schools which participate from all over the country.
While much of the training process is rightly based on the AIFF's structured academies policy, Baan in the company of Scott O'Donell, the technical director of academies can broaden their base by having a look at what this annual schools event has to offer.
According to Baan, the present national selection of consists of 23 players and three goalkeepers, and suggested that the ideal structure is to have two academies of 30 payers (26 outfield and four goalkeepers) each.