Youth Football Leagues are a pathway for young budding footballers to have an essence of playing at the highest level and enjoy “The Beautiful Game”. All over the world, emphasis is now being put on developing youth football and youth footballers as they are going to define the future footballing prospect of a country. India, a country having a population of almost 1.3 billion, the highest in the world, has failed to leave its mark on World football.
Either nearly missing out on qualifying for major tournaments or an early exit from group stages after qualification has been a constant for the Indian Football Team. To develop the footballing culture in the country and to develop young footballers who could serve the nation, Reliance Foundation Youth Sports with the technical support of AIFF has started the U-21 league or the Reliance Foundation Development League (RFDL). This year will be the third season of the RFDL.
The teams would predominantly feature U-21 Players, with few overage (U23) players allowed as well. Participants in the league must
have been born on or after January 1, 2003. Each team will play at
least 10 matches in the regional qualifiers. A total of 250+
matches will be played in entire league. 20 teams will qualify for the National
group stage from the regional qualifiers. The top-four teams will play the
National Championship Stage and the 2024 Next Gen Cup.
Mohun Bagan's approach :-
Mohun Bagan have always been a leading name in the field of developing youth footballers and their developmental team participating in the RFDL will not bring much surprise. In the previous RFDL edition, Mohun Bagan had assembled one of the finest youth squads in the country that went all the way to the National Championship stage as Taison Singh from ended up as the top scorer with 5 goals to his name. Mohun Bagan started their previous season's journey in a well drilled manner but a defeat against arch rivals East Bengal ended their zonal campaign in 2nd place but after that they made a smooth progress to the National Championship where they got the chance to play in the 2023 Next Gen Cup .
This time around under the tutelage of
experienced Bastob Roy, the junior Mariners are set to sail once again in the
RFDL. After ending as the third best team last season with a mix of young and talented footballers, expectations from Mohun Bagan
are high this time too. It's now time to see how coach Bastob Roy assisted
by Abhra Mondal set the sail of the Mariners. As players like Suhail Bhatt,
Amandeep Singh, Raj Basfore, Sumit Rathi, Abhishek Suryavanshi, Dippendu Biswas and Terina
Hnamte have secured their places in the
senior team by their performances in the youth league, it will be on show how
can the players from this year's team perform and potentially cement their place in the
senior team before the start of new season.
The players registered for the RFDL are listed below :-
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| N.B. Few Players are absent in this pic, due to their ongoing exams. |
Syed Zahid Hussain Bukhari (20) : One Of Young Goalkeeping prospect. Always delivered, whenever got the time. He played in CFL, RFDL last year for us.
Abhisek Balowary (20) : The Young Goalkeeper from Coochbehar. Great Prospect. He was in last year's RFDL team, played an important role in our journey.
Nandan Roy (16) : The Young Goalkeeper from Jalpaiguri. Our U17 Team Goalkeeper and Captain. He was in incredible form in the U17 Youth League.
Brijesh Giri (21) : The young Bengali left back, Speedy and solid. Played the last CFL and was in last year's RFDL squad for us.
Pritam Meetei (19) : The Young Manipuri Sideback will be back after a while (got injured last year) and is expected to make huge impact this year.
Joshua Rae (20) : Joshua is another Speedy, Versatile, Solid, Technical right back, who will definitely make some impact this time.
Shubho Paul (19) : The Young Bengali Striker, who got featured in Bayern world XI. Signed for us, last year, but got injured. He'll back after a while and is expected to be the main marksman for the team going forward.
Uttam Hansda (21) : Young Bengali forward, played in last year's RFDL, scored some valuable goals for us in that tournament,
Engson singh (21) : Engson is primarily a modern day central attacking midfielder. He played in CFL, Durand, AFC for us & was in last year's RFDL. Can create magic with his left foot, technically gifted.
Vian Vinay Murgod (20) : Vian is one of the most exciting strikers in the squad, played CFL, was signed from Reliance young champs. A good player to pair up with Shubho.
Babai Jana (19) : Babai is mainly a defensive midfielder, can play an effective role in breaking down opponent attacks.
Arka Prabha Das (20) : Arka Prabha is primarily a Centre Back, can be deployed all across the backline.
Chandan Yadav (17) : Chandan is one of the primary Centre-Backs in the team, was in last year's RFDL squad.
Ravi Rana (21) : The most versatile player in the squad, can play anywhere in the field (except GK), expected to make a mark this year.
Serto Worneilen Kom (19) : Serto can be deployed as a central or attacking midfielder, played in the CFL last year, has good technique.
Rahul Kumar (20) : Rahul is primarily a left back, will play an important role to provide depth in the left side.
Swarnadip Das (17) : Swarnadip is a modern attacking midfielder, brilliant game sense & create Magic at any time. He played in last year's U17 youth league for us & was in RFDL squad as well.
Thumsol Tongsin (18) : He is central midfielder mainly, played CFL and was in last year RFDL squad.
Akash mondal (20) : Akash is mainly right wing player, can play on both the wings. He'll surely provide width in the right side.
Dev Mal (16) : Dev is a brilliant, speedy guy who can play on both sides in the wing. He got promoted from current U17 team, courtesy is heroics in the Youth League.
Satgougun Kipgen (19) : Kipgen is primarily a central midfielder, had played in the last CFL for us.
Fardin Ali molla (21) : The most experienced player in the team, played CFL, ISL, Durand, AFC, was also in last year's RFDL squad. There is huge expectations from him this time around.
N Rohen Singh (20) : Rohen is a brilliant right back. Solid, speedy as well as versatile, played in the CFL for us.
Sagun Mandi (16) : Sagun got the prize of his heroics in the current U-17 youth league, solid defensively, collected 4 clean sheet in 6 matches in this season's U17 league.
Sibajit Singh (19) : The best young defensive midfielder in our team, technically sound, solid, played in CFL, Durand & was in last year's RFDL squad. Will play a very active role in controlling the midfield.
Taison Singh (19) : The man with a magical left foot, primarily a right winger but can play attacking midfielder or second striker, and also last season's RFDL topscorer. He played in CFL, Durand cup, Super Cup & AFC Cup. Taison will surely be the leading attacker for the team this time.
Sandeep Malik (19) : Sandeep is a versatile midfielder, who is totally new to the team, technically adept and a great prospect. He signed for us, from Bidhannagar Municipal Sports Academy.
Mohan Bairagi (18) : Mohon is a speedy winger, who is also a new guy in the team, versatile, technically sound, solid and a great prospect. He signed for us, from Bidhannagar Municipal Sports Academy.
Rabi Murmu (20) : Robi is a Sideback primarily, who is also a new guy in the team, versatile, solid and a great prospect. His last club was Milan Bithee.
Tapan Halder (20) : Tapan is a versatile midfielder, who is totally new to the team, technical, solid and a great prospect. Previously he played for Jamshedpur FC & Indian Arrows.
**Also, Few More Young (U23) Players from our senior squad can join the RFDL Squad in later stages, if needed.
We will be begin our Journey against Kalighat Milan Sangha on 3rd March 2024. We, all the members of MBFT wish good luck to our young champs to be the best youth team in India. .
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