Hailakandi, Dec. 26: The Silchar Football Academy has failed to qualify for the next stage of the under-15 Manchester United Premier Cup qualifying round but has come back home richer in experience. The Silchar team toured Chandigarh recently to play in the zonal qualifying rounds of the under-15 Manchester United Premier Cup Football. The qualifying rounds were organised among the football academies of the country with a team from every state.

One team will qualify from each zone for the national level and one team from India will play in the Asian-level qualifying meet. The winners of the Asian meet will, in turn, participate in the under-15 Manchester United Premier Cup Football.

Subir Dey, who accompanied the team as coach, said participation in tournaments of this kind was “definitely a big thing because it was an opportunity for the team to play before national level selectors”.

The Academy drew 1-1 with the Mohun Bagan Football Academy from Calcutta.

Two players from Silchar, Paikhuna Kabui and Moses, will be inducted into the Mohun Bagan Academy this year.

In the other matches, Silchar defeated Hindustan Football Academy of Delhi 3-0 and lost to HBSC Football Academy of Punjab 0-2.