The All-India Football Federation (AIFF) has announced the commencement of the Men’s National Football Championship (NFC) for Under 20, named as the ‘Swami Vivekananda U20 National Football Championship’. The championship will be held at Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama in Chhattisgarh starting in April, aiming to bridge the gap in youth football structure.
AIFF’s decision to bring back the U20 competition comes after the discontinuation of the U21 competition during the Covid-19 pandemic. AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey highlighted the importance of restarting the competition at the senior boys’ level to provide a pathway for players’ progression into professional careers and international tournaments like the Asian Games U23.
Chaubey expressed his satisfaction with the reintroduction of the U20 NFC competition, stating that it completes the youth structure pyramid from U17 Youth League to Santosh Trophy. The competition will play a crucial role in enabling players to transition into senior competitions and serve as a stepping stone in their career development.
In the upcoming U20 Championship, AIFF will invite all its state member associations to participate, further enhancing the competition structure at the age-group level. The championship venue, Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama in Narainpur, Chhattisgarh, boasts a full-fledged football pitch, training facilities, and residential area to facilitate the smooth conduct of the tournament.
