Kolkata: The fourth season of the Kolkata School Football League (KSFL) is set to begin on October 2, with 16 schools from the city competing in a three-day inter-school football tournament in New Town.
Organised by sports management and marketing company Sports Connect India, KSFL Season 4 will be held from October 2 to 4 at the NKDA/HIDCO Futsal Ground near Akankha More in Action Area II, New Town.
The tournament will follow an Under-15, 5-a-side knockout format, with organisers bringing back the shorter format this year to accommodate the busy academic calendar of schools.
The competition will feature 16 participating schools, with matches scheduled across the three-day tournament.
Bingo Tedhe Medhe is the title sponsor of the tournament, while Yippee has come on board as the powered-by partner. Red FM is the official radio partner.
Former India international footballer and tournament patron Debashish Mukherjee said the league is aimed at creating a competitive platform for young footballers at the school level.
“Sports Connect is creating a meaningful platform for young footballers at the grassroots level. KSFL gives school players an opportunity to compete, build confidence and experience the spirit of competitive sport,” Mukherjee said.
Sports Connect India co-founder Khalid Shadan said school football can play an important role in identifying young talent and supporting the long-term development of the sport in Bengal.
“We believe the future of Indian football starts in our schools. Through KSFL, we are committed to identifying young sporting talent and contributing to the long-term development of football in Bengal,” Shadan said.
Sports Connect India has been expanding its activities across different sporting disciplines. The company had earlier organised the Bengal School Table Tennis Championship in April 2023 and has since expanded into corporate leagues, cycling events, marathons, sports clinics and talent-hunt programmes.
The company also works with government bodies, educational institutions and CSR organisations on initiatives aimed at promoting sports and developing grassroots talent.
