Srinagar: State Football Academy- Jammu and Kashmir’s maiden state owned football academy- Thursday launched district academies in Bandipora and Ganderbal. The academies were inaugurated by Waheed Ur Rehman Secretary J&K State Sports Council.
According to a press statement issued here, State Football Academy which was launched on May this year by Minister of Sports, IT & Technical Education Imran Raza Ansari, aims to establish Academy Units of SFA in every District in three age groups of U-13, U-15 & U-18. 
“So far 250 players have been selected and trained at these three Districts and the SFA intends to target 5000 players across the State by the end of the playing season who will be professionally trained by Head of the Academy & Star Footballer Mehraj Ud Din Wadoo ,” the statement said.
Recently State Football Academy was awarded 2 star rating by All India Football Federation (AIFF) which provides them berth to participate in major tournaments of National Level like Junior I-League, Youth League, IFA Shield Durand Cup etc.
Waheed Ur Rehman on the occasion said, “We want to see players from every part of the State performing at highest level and the platform has already been set by SFA”.