Football is a very popular game in Jammu and Kashmir. The Kashmir valley has
produced top class players who have gone on to play at both National and
International level. Mr. Abdul Majid was the trail blazer of this region. He has captained the National side and has many international achievements. The present
sensations like Ishfaq Ahmed and Mehrajuddin Wadoo are the products of this tradition.
The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has a similar history of excellence
in sports. The Force has in its ranks one Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award, 02 Padma Shris and 16 Arjuna Awardees.
The CRPF also has the policy of encouraging sports in its areas of
deployment. In this direction, the Ops Kashmir Sector of CRPF partnered with
Football Next Foundation to identify and encourage the best talent in the sport in
Kashmir valley. A tie-up was made with Sociedad Deportiva Lenense, Proinastur club (A 3rd division professional club from the famous Spanish La Liga, which is the
national football league in Spain). The club agreed to take on contract a player for the position of Central Forward and Right winger for the coming 2017 January
window. It may be mentioned here that this will be for the first time that any Indian player will be seen playing for a Spanish La Liga club. The Ops Kashmir Sector, CRPF was given the responsibility of identifying this talented player.
A three-member selection committee was formed to conduct trials for this
selection, consisting of Mr. Anit Ghosh, Mr. Ishfaq Ahmed and Mr. Hilal Rasool
Parray. Mr. Anit Ghosh is a product of the Tata Football Academy, Jamshedpur and
has been a member of the Indian football team from 1994 to 1999. In a professional career spanning from 1994 to 2012, he has played in various national and international tournaments. He has represented India sub juniors in Iran and South
Korea in 1994, Asian Games, Bangkok-1998, has captained East Bengal, and has played for famous teams like Mohun Bagan, Mohameddan Sporting Club, Kolkata, Churchil Brothers, Goa etc. He is a reputed coach and has trained in countries like Germany, Holland, Japan, Singapore and Malaysia. Mr. Ishfaq Ahmed is a famous
professional footballer presently with Kerala Blasters in the Indian Super League.
Starting his career in 2002, he has played for Dempo, Mohun Bagan, Salgaocar and East Bengal. He also scored a goal in his debut international appearance against Turkmenistan in the U-23 tournament. Mr. Hilal Rasool Parray is a reputed coach from Kashmir. He is an Asian Football Confederation Pro-License Diploma Holder,
and is the first and only coach from North India amongst 08 such Indian coaches. He has played in various tournaments like Santosh Trophy (1999 & 2002), Federation
Cup(1997, 98),Durand Cup (2001), and attended various seminars and workshops
relating to football coaching.
We are extremely grateful to J&K Football Association for the help given by them and for their unstinting support.
Based on the results of the trials, we are proud to announce the selection of
Basit Ahmed for Centre Forward and Mohammed Asrar Renbar for Winger.
