Shillong, Sep 12: Four academies in Meghalaya have secured All India Football Federation accreditation for 2025-26, the governing body announced yesterday.
The four are Bhaichung Bhutia Football School (Shillong), 4 For All Football Academy, Shillong Lajong’s academy and Little Star Academy.
The AIFF’s academy accreditation programme is part of efforts to strengthen player development and professionalise the football academy ecosystem in India.
A total of 142 academies applied for accreditation this year, out of which seven achieved 5- or 4-star ratings. 134 academies received accreditation in total.
Bhaichung Bhutia Football School (Shillong), 4 For All Football Academy and Shillong Lajong all received 2-star ratings. Little Star Academy was awarded a 1 star rating. It isn’t known if there were more academies from Meghalaya that applied for accreditation this year.
NorthEast United’s academy also received 2 stars and that is also the case for other Indian Super League clubs, like East Bengal, Mohun Bagan and FC Goa.
There are various criteria under which the academies are judged – training elite youth age groups with registered players (boys and girls) between 12 and 18 years; licensed technical staff; approved curriculum and training plan; facilities and infrastructure; leagues and competitions; talent identification and recruitment; player progression; medical provisions; administrative support.
This year’s accreditation process introduced a number of new measures to make the system more inclusive and performance-oriented, the AIFF said. For the first time, academies fielding girls’ teams in youth categories were recognised within the accreditation framework and every female employee working within the academy ecosystem was also acknowledged with additional points.
Performance was another key factor, with academies rewarded for their teams’ results in previous AIFF Youth League campaigns. The evaluation further encouraged local player development by awarding points to academies that consistently fielded players developed within their own systems.
(File photo of Little Star Academy)
