The wait is almost over as the India Football Tour is almost upon us. With less than a month to go for the tournament to begin, the excitement and hype built up is reaching its crescendo.
Fans of 5-a-side football have been enthusiastic in getting their teams registered to become the best in the city, and to try and win the national championship.
After a great response to the tournament announcement and an incredible number of queries, it has now been decided that people from nearby cities can also register and participate in any of the 8 host cities.
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If you are a fan of organised 5-a-side football and think you have the necessary skills to be an outstanding 5-a-side footballer, this is the best time for you to show what you can do on the field!
A tournament exclusively for amateurs, the India Football Tour, the country’s largest 5-a-side football tour, is the perfect platform for one to demonstrate their abilities on the field. The tour goes across 8 different cities across India to pick the best amateur team in the country.
Every city will play host to a qualifying tournament where they can be crowned City Champions, surely a matter of great pride! All the city winners will then travel to Goa to play in the Tour finale, where India’s best amateur 5-a-side football team will be crowned.
The dates of the tour were changed due to the Chennai floods as it was thought best to give people time to recover so as to ensure proper participation from the city of Chennai.
Starting on the 27th of February in Delhi, the tourney goes on the 23rd of April, when the last leg will be played in Chennai. The other cities that will be covered are Guwahati, Hyderabad, Pune, Mumbai, Bangalore and Kolkata in that time.
Now that the dates are clear, the next thing on everyone’s minds is what one needs to do to be able to participate.
The best part about the India Football Tour is that professional 5-a-side players are not eligible, while anyone above the age of 16 with a valid identity proof can participate, in accordance with the rules followed by the Football Fives World Cup.
Participants in class XI and XII will need consent from their parents and there is no regulation on gender as well, so teams can have both men and women.
Considering that the tournament is being held at a grand scale, the prizes too are very exciting! The regional winners all get an all-expense paid trip to Goa and the chance to represent their cities in a professionally organised tournament.
However, the real reward is the fact that the National finale will be streamed live across the world, allowing people everyone to watch and appreciate your skills.
Also, what happens if your team wins the finale of the India Football Tour? The winners get an all-expense paid trip to Thailand for the World Championships and will also get a chance to represent India at the Football Fives World Cup in 2017 (the world’s largest 5-a-side football tournament).
How does one get their team registered you ask? Well, one can register their team for the India Football Tour through BookMyShow, a platform which is widely accessible and used. The advantage of registering through BookMyShow is that there are early bird discounts being offered, so it is best to get your team registered soon!
So, what are you waiting for? Visit the website (India Football Tour), register, form your team and start practising. For all you know, you could be representing India at the world 5-a-side tournament next year!
