MARGAO
Seven clubs from the Indian Super League (ISL) will be joined by a team from Reliance Foundation Young Champs (RFYC) for the inaugural Reliance Foundation Development League (RFDL) in Goa from April 15 to May 12.
FC Goa, Bengaluru FC, Chennaiyin FC, Jamshedpur FC, Kerala Blasters FC, Mumbai City FC and Hyderabad FC have confirmed their participation for this first of its kind initiative in India that will provide a unique opportunity for emerging players to compete against the best talent in their age group from across the country.
The added bonus for teams that finish in the top two at the end of the league will be given the chance to participate at the Next Gen Cup to be hosted in the United Kingdom for the first time later this year. The Next Gen Cup will be hosted by the Premier League (PL) as part of its longstanding partnership with the ISL to support the development of football in India. The top two teams from the RF Development League will be joined by selected PL Club youth teams, providing Indian players the chance to experience playing in the UK and competing against academy sides from the most watched football league in the world. The PL and its clubs will also provide digital knowledge sharing workshops to best support the ISL clubs involved.
Players born on or after January 1, 2001 will be eligible to participate in the league but each team has been granted permission to include up to 5 players born on or after January 1, 1999 in their squads. No more than three such players will be permitted to be part of the playing XI at all times. Each club can travel to Goa with a maximum of 24 players but no foreign nationals can be included in their squads.
