Mahindra Youth Football Challenge to start on January 28

Addressing a press conference here today, Vice-president of Goa Football Association, Levino Rebello, said that the intra-city leg will see 32 leading soccer playing schools from Goa competing among themselves from January 28 to vie for the honour of "Champion School" of Goa.

The champion school of Goa will then lock horns with five other champion schools from Bangalore, Mumbai, Kolkata, Delhi and Kerala to decide the ultimate winner of the Mahindra Youth Football Challenge.

The intra-city legs in Bangalore, Delhi, Kolkata, Kerala and Mumbai are over.

Among the top 32 schools invited to participate in the championships are fancied names that include defending champion St Britto High School, Don Bosco High School, Loyola High School, Guardian Angel High School, Marina English School and Chubby Cheeks High School.

The second Intra-City Challenge of the Mahindra Youth football Challenge was won by Pandua S B S High School, Kolkata, making it two in a row for Kolkata schools, while Central Reserve Police Force High School, Delhi finished runner-up.

The winners from each city will get Rs 30,000, the runners-up team will get Rs 20,000 and the 3rd placed winner Rs 15,000.

The final is slated for April 12 in Bangalore and the champion school of Mahindra Youth Football Challenge will receive a cash prize of Rs 50,000 along with the winner's trophy while the runners-up team will get Rs 30,000 and a trophy.

The winning schools from the seven cities and their coaches will also benefit from a four-day coaching camp to be conducted by a panel of visiting coaches from Celtic Football Club before the inter-city challenge.

The same panel will also shortlist 22 to 24 players who will undergo a four-day coaching clinic, where two to four players will be selected to travel to Scotland and Celtic Football Club for a 10-day intensive coaching camp in Glasgow and will also get to watch Scottish Premier League games at Celtic Park.