New Delhi: The Bundesliga Dream India project marked a successful return for its second edition in the country, following the inaugural edition with Eintracht Frankfurt and FC Augsburg. In the second season, the project witnessed exponential growth and involved over 100 cities and 18 states across India through regional trials.
Close to 450 kids in the Under-13 and Under-15 categories competed for an opportunity to compete for 37 spots in an intense training camp in Germany in collaboration with Bundesliga clubs Vfb Stuttgart and SV Darmstadt 98.
While VfB Stuttgart will host the under-13 team, Darmstadt 98 will host the under-15 team in a one-month camp.
Bundesliga Dream Project India: Regional trials and national finals
The national finals, held in Mumbai on April 28 and 29, brought together champion teams from regional trials, where over 450 boys from the U-13 and U-15 age groups battled hard for 37 spots to travel to Germany.
After an exhilarating day of group stage matches on April 28, the stage was set for the knockout games on April 29, Tuesday.
Odisha dominates U-13 & U-15 Bundesliga Dream Project finals
In the U-13 category, ODM from Odisha edged past Thane City FC 1-0 in a tight encounter in the first semi-final. The second semifinal between MRFC from J&K against Keep It Up from Ghaziabad went down to the wire. After a stalemate in the regulation time, the match went to penalties. Both teams converted their first five penalties, but MRFC from J&K eventually won the contest after scoring the sixth goal.
In the final, Odisha battled past MRFC from J&K and emerged as the champions after winning the U-13 final by a one-goal margin.
In the U-15 age category, the first semifinal between Thane City FC and Manipur went to the penalties. Thane City FC held their nerves and won 5-4 in the shootout. In the second semifinal, Odisha beat Bangalore to set up the U-15 final with Thane City FC.
In another fiercely contested final, Odisha defeated Thane City 1-0 to win the U-15 title and became the champions in both age groups.
37 Indian youth footballers earn Germany training camp spots
A total of 37 kids have been selected for the Germany training program, which will go on for a month. At the U-13 level, 18 kids have been selected from different regional teams, while at the U-15 level, 19 kids have been picked.
Top coaches Björn Peter and Sandro Sirigu, along with Bundesliga legend and former Borussia Dortmund goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller, are among the group of Bundesliga stalwarts who are inspiring the players.
The Bundesliga Dream India Project’s second edition in India saw exponential growth, encompassing 100+ cities and 18 states. Over 450 Under-13 and Under-15 players competed in regional trials, culminating in national finals in Mumbai. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
