Over 100 teams to take part in Subroto Cup, Pele could attend final

New Delhi: More than 100 school teams, including those from seven foreign countries, will take part in the Subroto Mukherjee Football Tournament which will be held here from September 10 to October 16.

In what could be seen as a major boost to the tournament, organizers are trying to get football legend Pele to attend the final as a chief guest.

“Pele can come for the final on October 16. There are serious talks with concerned people. We will know about it in some time. Efforts have been made to bring Pele, but the organising committee would have to raise substantial money to bring the Brazilian legend on a short visit to India,” Air Marshall BBP Sinha (AVSM) was quoted as saying by a report in the DNA.

The football icon and his Cosmos team had played an exhibition match in Kolkata on Septemver 22, 1977 against Mohun Bagan.

His star-studded team included the likes of Beckenbaur, Alberto and Kinalia and were held to a 2-2 draw by the Bengali outfit.

Teams from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, South Korea, Sweden, Brazil and Ukraine will vie for top honours in the top school football tournament, organizers Subroto Mukherjee Sports Education Society said.

The tournament will be held in three age groups -- boys under-14, boys under-17 and girls under-17.

The prize money of the boys under-14 category will be Rs 2.5 lakh while those of boys under-17 and girls under-17 will be Rs 3.5 lakh each.

Meanwhile, V N Singh, who died last year after having associated with the organisation of the Subroto Cup for may years, was posthumously given the lifetime achievement award.

Sports commentator Ghaus Mohammad was also given the lifetime achievement award by Air Marshal B B P Sinha, who is also vice-chairman of Subroto Mukherjee Sports Education Society.

(With Agency inputs)