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The whole concept of a Youth Development Programme is to nourish and nurture young talented Players. One needs to spot the potential and groom them so that in the coming years the potential develops into a well-crafted polished product, capable enough to play on a competitive stage while still having room for improvement and the tenacity, to develop into a finished product.
When the All India Football Federation’ Youth Development Programme was officially launched in 2007, the aim was no different. Ten years later, there are so many of them playing all over India in Clubs and even for the National Team. Add the latest two to the list – Nishu Kumar and Daniel Lalhimpuia, both AIFF Elite Academy products.
The duo scripted history as both feature in the JSW Bengaluru FC squad as the Club made its way to the AFC Cup Final defeating reigning Champions Johor Darul Ta’azim 4-2 on aggregate in the semi-finals.
Both Nishu and Daniel have proved to be stark clogs for Bengaluru FC in their quest for Asian glory. While defender Nishu Kumar started in the both the legs against JDT in the semifinals, forward Daniel Lalhimpuia scored the winning goal for the Bengaluru based Club against Kitchee in a 2-3 win away from home.
Even in the Hero I-League, both the AIFF Academy products have proved their worth as they featured prominently in the Hero I-League season of 2016/17.
When www.the-aiff.com caught up with the duo over phone, both expressed their gratitude towards AIFF for evolving them into better Players.
“I believe we are what we are because of the way the AIFF Academies carved us. Not only did they teach us to behave professionally, they also helped us develop into better human being and Football Players,” Daniel stated.
“We still have a long way to go as Football Players, but the AIFF Academies pointed us in the right way enabling us to cope with the nitty gritties of the Footballing World,” he added.
“The AIFF Academies groomed us into what we are today,” maintained Nishu who was a cadet in the AIFF U-16 Regional Academy in Mumbai before graduating to AIFF Elite Academy in Goa.
“The Football we learnt over in the Academies made us the Players we are today and the exposure which we got there representing India acted only as a value addition to the growth.”
The duo were also part of the Indian U-19 National Team Coached by Lee Johnson which participated in the AFC U-19 Qualifiers held in Palestine in October 2015.
Commenting about his stint in Bengaluru Nishu opined: “I have gathered a lot of experience through Bengaluru FC and training day in day out with National Team Players has made me a better Player. I have learnt a lot from Sunil-bhai, Eugene-bhai and Rino-bhai. I am very happy to be here at Bengaluru FC.”
Bengaluru FC face Air Force Club, Iraq in the final of the AFC Cup 2016 in Doha, Qatar on November 05, 2016 and the duo are raring to go if given a chance by Coach Roca to start.
“We are already lucky to be part of the Team and it is once in a lifetime opportunity for us to make India proud on the big stage,” Daniel informed. “We have trained under some of the best Coaches in India and that has aided us a lot.”
“We have to give it our all if we are selected by the Coach to play in the Final.”
by AIFF Media
