2 Valley footballers picked for La Liga

Srinagar, January 7

Two Kashmiri teenaged footballers have been selected to participate in the famous Spanish football league La Liga.

Basit Ahmed, 18, and Mohammed Asrar, 17, both from Srinagar city, were selected for the league by a three-member selection committee. “While Basit has been selected for the league, Asrar will have to face trials in Spain,” Inspector General, Operations, CRPF, Kashmir, Zulfiqar Hassan told reporters in Srinagar. “We had to select only one, but we have requested them to allow us to select two boys. They agreed, but the second boy will have to face trials.”

The Kashmir Operation Sector of the CRPF has partnered with Football Next Foundation to identify and encourage the best talent in the sport in the Valley.

“A tie-up was made with Sociedad Deportiva Lenense, Proinastur club (a 3rd division professional club from La Liga). The club agreed to take on contract a player for the position of central forward and right winger for the coming 2017 January window,” Hassan said.

“It is a huge platform and I am sure to make the mark,” said Basit. — TNS