Former Indian footballer Mehrajuddin Wadoo has emphasized the importance of competitions like the Reliance Foundation Youth Sports 2024-25 (RFYS) for the development of young footballers in Jammu & Kashmir.
Speaking during the ongoing leg of the RFYS 2024-25 football tournament in the Union Territory, Wadoo highlighted the tournament as a crucial platform for identifying players ready to step into professional football beyond the region.
“Last year, the tournament was very successful and received a great response. Players enjoyed and gained valuable experience. This season, I’m confident we will discover players capable of playing outside Jammu & Kashmir,” Wadoo said.
One of the standout aspects of the RFYS in Kashmir is the inclusion of a U-19 girls’ competition.
Wadoo expressed optimism about the potential of several young female players, noting their capability to play for professional clubs and even the national team if provided with proper training.
“I saw the finals last season and witnessed good quality players. Girls must continue participating in such competitions to improve. With the right grooming, they can achieve great things,” Wadoo added.
Wadoo also pointed out the need for better coaching infrastructure to fully unlock the players’ potential. “What we lack is quality coaching and competition. RFYS gives us the competition we need, but improving coaching quality is equally important,” he said.
The U-15 boys’ matches have already seen teams like SRM Welkin School, Lonestar Football Academy, and GHFC Ganderbal secure dominant victories, while others like SA Academy Ganderbal and NIP School played out closely contested draws.
The seventh season of RFYS is currently underway in 10 regions across the country, including Kashmir, where 32 teams are competing across boys’ and girls’ age groups in a league format. Matches began on December 21, marking the second consecutive year of the tournament in the region.
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