Patel congratulates AIFF Elite Academy for U-19 I-League triumph

Team members of the AIFF Elite Academy in Pune earlier this year.

New Delhi, May 7 (IANS) All India Football Federation (AIFF) president Praful Patel on Thursday congratulated the AIFF Elite Academy players and staff for their sterling performance in the recently concluded Under-19 I-League which the team won, remaining unbeaten throughout the campaign.The I-League U19 is the top level of youth football in India. It is contested between the under-20 sides of The I-League. The final round was between the AIFF Elite Academy and United U19, held on the 6th of May, 2015.

"The whole academy programme that we started in 2012 is beginning to pay-off and the way these boys, who are 1997 born, played is a clear indication of how a structured youth development programme can raise the bar," Patel said.

"These boys consistently defeated the opposition in a convincing manner and I hope other clubs learn from this and create a structured youth development programme including academies."

The AIFF Elite Academy boys have all dispersed to their respective homes and will return soon for the preparation of the AFC U-19 Championship.