Shillong, Feb 26: Rangdajied United FC were nominated for the maiden All India Football Federation’s Grassroot Awards 2023 in the category of Best Professional Academy.
The awards are meant to acknowledge and appreciate the entities that have made exceptional contributions at the grassroots level.
Rangdajied were nominated because of their “significant contributions to the development of grassroots football in India,” a letter to the club last month by AIFF Acting Secretary General Satyanarayan Muthyalu said.
Exactly what Rangdajied did to deserve this praise is not spelled out – the letter is full of generalities, not specifics. Rangdajied were busy in grassroots activities last year thanks to RUFC Schools, which has been training hundreds of children in Shillong and Mawngap.
The awards had to be applied for, following which the applications were “thoroughly examined” by the AIFF. The winners of the various categories will also be eligible for nomination to the upcoming AFC Grassroots Awards 2023.
The AIFF awards have been divided into three categories – Stakeholders, Event Operations and Special Initiatives. A Presidential Award was also accorded to five individuals for their service to grassroots football over the years.
Stakeholder winners:
Best School: Ryan Group of Schools, Maharashtra
Best Grassroots Academy: Khelum Foundation, Sikkim
Best Professional Academy: Bengaluru FC, Karnataka
Best State FA: Mizoram Football Association
Event Operations winners:
Best Engagement: Young Star FC, Haryana
Best Event Organisation: Momin FC, Maharashtra
Best Volunteer Programme: Oscar Foundation, Maharashtra
Best Activity Programme: Warming Up Kids, West Bengal
Special Initiatives winners:
Best Kindergarten Initiatives: Great Goals FC, Tamil Nadu
Best Social Initiative: Slum Soccer, Maharashtra
Best Women’s Initiative: Naandi Foundation
Best Disability Initiative: FC Goa
Best Rural Development Programme: Tata Steel Foundation, Jharkhand
Best Legacy Programme: Anantapur Sports Academy, Andhra Pradesh
President’s Award recipients: Vishal Vaza (Bhavnagar FA, Gujarat), Nathaniel D’Costa (FC Goa), Sai Adithya Saravanan (First Kick School of Soccer), Nikolaos Topoliatis (Punjab FC), Ganesh Prabhu (Chennaiyin FC)
(RUFC Schools file photo)