The early verdict on the Schools Premier League, organised by Chennai United FC, has to be “so far, so good.” The first ever schools football league in the city is only six matches old but the signs are positive. After three days’ of action at MCC School, Chetpet, the tournament moves to St. Michael’s for four matches in the second round. Don Bosco (Perambur), another venue in the 14-team league, will stage matches in the third week of January.
From starting matches on time to uploading videos of goals on their website, Chennai United have done exceedingly well in their efforts to add pep to schools football. The matches haven’t been gripping so far and it’s only understandable because the first round is always difficult for teams. Players need time to adjust to the conditions.
They also must find cohesion in their game. One can expect action to gather pace and spice as the league progresses. MCC, Don Bosco (Egmore), Wesley and Velammal (Panchetti) have caught the eye in the first round. But it’s too early to hazard a guess on the semi-final line-up.
Wesley coach I.K. Unni was all praise for the league. “It’s a great initiative for the development of grassroots football. I’m certain that the league will pay dividends in the years to come. Exposure is important for school students,” he said.
The experienced SAI coach said the league has been conducted professionally. “That’s the reason it has generated a lot of interest. The organisers have provided high quality kit to all teams. Players are all thrilled to play in a league format. We lack sports culture in Chennai and I hope the league is step in the right direction,” he added.
Uploading videos of goals is a fantastic move. The organisers should also provide results on the web immediately. It will be useful for parents and fans to keep tab on the league.
