GUWAHATI, Sept 24 � City based Betkuchi High School emerged champions in the Airtel Rising Star Football Championship with a 3-0 victory against Sankar Madhab High School of Mirza.
Leading 1-0 at the break, the Betkuchi boys pumped in two more in the second session at the Nehru Stadium here today.
Nayanjyoti Kuli struck in the 12th and 41st minutes while Birkwdao Daimari added one in the 49th minute.
The tournament was organised by Airtel in association with Assam Football Association (AFA) and GSA. Altogether four players, including a goalkeeper, were selected from this tournament who will take part in a national level selection trial to be held in Goa next month. A 11-member national team will be picked from the Goa camp and they will be sent to Manchester for a week-long training session.
Deepjyoti Patra (Maloibari HS), Suraj Basumatary (AKHS of North Guwahati), Nayanjyoti Kuli (Betkuchi) and Lakhyajyoti Boro (Pragjyotish) have been selected for the Goa camp.
The selection process however has raised questions among the participating teams. After selecting about 50 players considering their performances in the tournament, a final selection trial was conducted this morning to pick up the best four. The entire process was completed within a couple of hours where the selectors tested their skills.
Players selected from the finalist teams found it difficult in performing both in the morning and the afternoon. So it sends a clear message that the selection process was not 100 per cent correct.
In the closing function, Sports Minister Ajit Singh, AFA secretary Ankur Dutta, Airtel HR head Tridip Sarma, GSA president Rana Goswami and Airtel official Anjali Chittaranjan were present as guests.
The Sports Minister urged the Airtel officials to provide a helping hand in maintaining the Sarusajai sports complex.