City footballer Alwyn George aims big

Nagpur: Having played for India`s junior team in the qualifying rounds of Asian Football Confederation (AFC), city midfielder Alwyn George, adjudged as the best youngest player of the country, has now set his eyes on the senior team.

Brought up in a middle class family in Martin Nagar in northern part of city, the 21-year-old, who has been associated with Pailan Arrows, was looking to sign with new club during the routine transfer next month as he has offers from a few ones. A product of Tata Football Academy (TFA), Alwyn has undergone training at Jamshedur and played professional football in under-13 and under-14 categories. He made his international debut in Uzbekistan in 2004 and later played in Oman in AFC qualifier. Alwyn was adjudged the `Best Youngest Football Player of the Country` last fortnight by Players Football Association of India (PFAI) and given the coveted prize by All India Football Association (AIFF) president Praful Patel and actor Abhishek Bachchan. Alwyn Said that though he has played in Myanmar, the Nehru Cup in Delhi and the exhibition match against Palestine, he wished to play Santosh Trophy and later secure a place in the senior national team. "As long as possible, I would like to remain a professional player," Alwyn said. Having spent four years in the Tata Academy, Alwyn has picked up finer points of the game under the watchful eyes of Ranjan Choudhary and Vijay Kumar in Jamshedpur. His elder brother Arvind has also played Santosh Trophy for Maharashtra last year. Western India Football Association (WIFA) official Haresh Vora has described Alwyn`s future bright and felt that he has brought laurels to the city. PTI