Guwahati, May 15: Jamshedpur FC U-17 head coach Kaizad Ambapardiwalla believes the team’s journey to the final of the AIFF U-17 Elite Youth League must serve as a stepping stone for future success, after the young Men of Steel finished as runners-up in their first-ever appearance in the competition’s title clash.
Reflecting on the team’s campaign, Kaizad called the run “phenomenal” and praised the resilience and learning spirit of the squad. “From the qualifiers to the final, the boys have shown a strong sense of belief. For them, it was a learning curve,” he said. “We’ve had our highs and lows, but the way they responded, especially in knockout games was outstanding. Reaching the final for the first time in our club’s U-17 history speaks volumes of the players’ mentality and commitment.”
Kaizad highlighted the quarterfinal victory over NorthEast United FC as the defining moment in the campaign. “Coming back from a goal down and dominating the second half showed our maturity and resilience. It gave the boys confidence that they belonged at the highest level. That momentum carried into the semifinal where we played some of our best football against a strong AIFF Talent Academy side,” he said.
Although Jamshedpur fell short in the final against Punjab FC, losing 1-4, the coach remained optimistic and focused on the positives. “We started slow and gave Punjab too much space, which they capitalized on. But I was very proud of our second-half response. We kept the ball better, pressed higher, and created chances. The boys didn’t give up and kept fighting till the last whistle. That spirit is something we can build on,” Kaizad concluded.
Jamshedpur FC U-17’s journey from the qualifiers through the playoff and final rounds marks a historic achievement for the club’s youth development system.
Most of these players were scouted through a centralized trial in Jamshedpur post the COVID-19 pandemic, and were recruited as under-15 players three years ago. Though lost in the final, the team had one of the best campaign and can be proud about their inspiring campaign.
Despite defeat in the final against Punjab FC, the journey of this Jamshedpur FC U17 squad remains nothing short of extraordinary as they were second in the qualifying group. They topped the playoff round to progress to the Group D, where they finished second and went on to defeat North East United FC in the quarterfinal and thrash AIFF-FIFA Talent Academy, 5- 0 in the semifinal.
