South United Football Club To Host First-ever Inter-city Tournament To Elevate Grassroots Football

South United Football Club to host first-ever inter-city tournament to elevate grassroots football (Image Source: IANS)

South United Football Club: South United Football Club (SUFC) announced the inaugural SUFC Inter-City tournament, its first-of-its-kind event where teams from the South United Football Academy (SUFA) Pune will compete against teams from SUFA Bangalore.

The two-day extravaganza will take place on January 11 and 12 at SUFC’s state-of-the-art facility in Ulsoor, Bangalore.

The tournament is set to unite over 250 young footballers, providing a platform for the Bengaluru-based club to demonstrate its importance to grassroots footballing initiatives.

Designed to inspire and engage budding athletes, the SUFC Inter-City Tournament will feature six age categories—Under-7, Under-9, Under-11, Under-13, Under-15, and Under-17.

Players will compete in an electrifying two-day tournament, with round-robin matches on the first day and the semi-finals and finals on the second day.

Beyond the competition, the tournament will also offer enriching experiences for the young players, including a meet-and-greet session with the Sporting Director of South United Sports Foundation, Terry Phelan and interactions with the club’s senior team players.

The participants will also attend an Indian Super League (ISL) match between Bengaluru FC and Mohammedan SC at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium on January 11.

The tournament will also act as a scouting platform for SUFC’s new Residential Academy Program, where top performers could even stand a chance to be selected for a scholarship. The aim of the program is to provide world-class facilities and holistic training to bridge the gap between grassroots and professional development and provide a clear pathway for the progression of players.

Pranav Trehan, CEO of South United Football Club, said, "The SUFC Inter-City Tournament marks a pivotal moment in our journey to elevate grassroots football in India. This initiative is not just about competition; it’s about creating opportunities for young players to gain match experience and learn tactics from a young age. We’re excited to provide a platform that brings together the best of football, education, and community-building, setting the stage for a brighter future for these talented athletes."

In line with SUFC’s mission to connect sports and education, the tournament will feature an exclusive session introducing the club’s upcoming Residential Academy Program, which aims to integrate academics and football training.

As a part of the tournament, SUFC's chief scout and analyst, Indresh Nagarajan will be conducting a workshop for the players to help them understand key football concepts using video analysis.

In line with SUFC’s mission to connect sports and education, the tournament will feature an exclusive session introducing the club’s upcoming Residential Academy Program, which aims to integrate academics and football training.

Article Source: IANS