Reliance Foundation has officially announced the date of commencement of the second season of the Development League. The league has been recognized as the largest U-21 youth league in the country. This is the second season of the league which started last year on the national level including only the reserve teams of only Indian Super League teams.
The first edition was won by the Bengaluru FC B team and Kerala Blasters FC reserves finished as runners-up in the tournament where they went on to participate in the Next Generation Cup held in the United Kingdom. But this time, the league has been expanded to an entirely different level, eventually having over 250+ matches.
The league format has a drastic change when compared to last season where there was only one phase which was the national level but this time the league has broadened and starts from the root level of football development done by state football associations. Football Development is the primary target of this league where the first phase of football is set to happen around 9 regions in the country.
The league will include reserve teams of the Indian Super League, the I League, the I League second division, and various youth academies in the regions associated. Each team from every region is assured at least 10 games before getting qualified for the national level which justifies the name of the league development resulting in a massive boost for youth development in the country.
Top teams who qualify as toppers from each region will be automatically qualified for the national level. The national level of the league will have four groups of 5 teams each where toppers of each group will be qualified for the Next Generation Cup. Teams who have qualified for the Next Generation Cup will play against top International teams across the world just like last year. Development League is bigger and better this time whose main target is youth development which makes it the best way for young footballers to showcase their talent in front of a huge audience and get noticed to be placed in the top division in the country.
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