In a landmark move set to redefine grassroots football in India, Aparup Futsal School has officially joined forces with Spain’s Liga Nacional de Futbol Sala (LNFS) to launch the ProIndia School Futsal Development League across Bengal. This pioneering collaboration promises to create a structured and inclusive pathway for young footballers, with a vision to impact over 100,000 children from 227+ government schools, all free of charge.
The program, structured in two rounds, begins with the integration of the AIFF Blue Cubs model into the Futsal format at the intra-school level. Schools will conduct league-style matches within classes and sections, culminating in a knockout stage that fosters a competitive spirit among budding footballers. The evaluation process includes the use of physical scouts and football analytics tools to identify talent—a progressive move aiming to make scouting more data-driven and fair.
Mr. Javier Lozano, President of LNFS, expressed his excitement about the initiative, calling it “a visionary project led by our sole representative in India, Aparup Chakraborty, the Futsal Man.” He further emphasized the value of introducing Futsal at the school level and praised the ambition of reaching underserved areas without charging students.
The league has received significant backing from Indian football stakeholders as well. Aparup Chakraborty, who serves as an AIFF Match Commissioner and a member of the IFA Futsal Committee, has been at the forefront of Bengal’s Futsal development since 2014. “We’re just trying to bring football to the remotest corners through Futsal, using the AIFF Blue Cubs model in a cost-free, scalable way. This is about access and passion,” he stated.
The project also includes notable collaborations with Slum Soccer and the Jhelum Foundation, both organizations committed to using sport for social transformation. The support from these institutions ensures broader impact, particularly among children from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
Adding technical weight to the program is Joshuah Vaz, current head coach of both the men’s and women’s Indian National Futsal Teams, who has joined Aparup Futsal School as a Technical Consultant. “Despite facing infrastructure challenges, Aparup has worked tirelessly. Even if not all FIFA futsal laws can be strictly followed, the involvement of so many children will be transformative,” he said.
As Bengal sets the pace in this new chapter of youth Futsal development, the alliance with Spain’s LNFS marks a major step forward, potentially positioning India as a future hub for talent in the global Futsal community.
