VIDEO: Clifford Miranda's opening goal for India vs Palestine

Here the footage of the opening goal by Clifford Miranda for Team India in their ongoing friendly against Palestine at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi, Kerala.

Tata Football Academy felicitate their 10th batch of cadets

The 10th batch of the Tata Football Academy yesterday received their passing out certificates and a momento from the Tata Steel managing director H.M. Nerurkar at the Academy premises in Jamshedpur.

18 boys passed out from the 10th batch and they were picked-up mainly by the Pailan Arrows with some of the boys joining Churchill Brothers SC, Salgaocar SC and Mohammedan Sporting Club. Talented Mohammed Irfan Khan walked home with the Best Gentleman Cadet award.

Present on the occasion were former TFA directors and coaches in P.K. Banerjee, Chuni Goswami, Shyam Thapa and Ranjan Choudhuri besides Tata Steel vice-president and chairman of TFA board of management Sanjiv Paul, AIFF Director of National Teams Subhankar Mukherjee, renowned sports commentator Novy Kapadia and chief (administration) of Tata Steel M.G. Singh.

The Tata Football Academy since its foundation in 1987 has been the lifeline of Indian football when it comes to creating and developing talent, which is being carried forward by the Pailan Arrows. One can only hope for success in the future.

The following players are being released as the 10th batch from the Tata Football Academy after four years of training and have joined following clubs: Ravi Kumar, Mohammed Irfan Khan, Chingkhel Meetei Yumnam, Ravinder Singh, Pronoy Haldar, Jayabrata Dhar, S. Siam Hanghal, Simranjeet Singh, Randhan Meetei Yumnam, Pankaj Kumar Sona, Alwyn George (all Pailan Arrows), Bilal Khan, Sanjay Balmaehu, Manpreet Singh (all Churchill Brothers SC), Mohammed Mustafa Ali, Amit Kumar, Satish Patel (all Mohammedan Sporting Club), Karan Sawhney (Salgaocar SC)

Alwyn George regarded as 'Special Talent', wants to last the distance

20 year old Alwyn George had had an incredible rise over the last few months switching over from the Tata Football Academy to the Pailan Arrows, getting a call-up for the India Under-22 and being a key played in their AFC Under-22 Championship qualifiers campaign and now he has been selected amongst the 20 players to represented India at the 2010 Nehru Cup from next week.

Humble yet confiden, but also down to earth that's Alwyn George for you. And testimony to his reassuring self-belief were the AFC Under-22 Championship qualifiers in Muscat where the Indian colts were a positive surprise though not qualifying for the final round.

Alwyn impressed in all the three matches he played. If a brace in the opening encounter against Lebanon was a sign of things to come, this young attacking midfielder found the back of the net every time he donned the Blue jersey.

But all that is past now. His good show has earned him a place in the senior team – in the final list of 20 for the Nehru Cup.

"I play just behind the striker and my job is to distribute the ball and set it up for the striker. The 4-4-1-1 suits me as I can fit in that hole behind the striker. Wim (Koevermans) has always been guiding me and giving me instructions," said Alwyn George.

"Let this be the start. I have worked hard and it is my dream to play for the Indian Senior Team. My performance in the AFC U-22 Championship (qualifiers) has helped me become more confident," added George.

Having played under Arthur Papas, who was the coach of the India Under-22s in Muscat, George feels that Koevermans and Papas are quite similar in their tactics. "Both of them have similar styles and their way of approaching the game suits me."

In fact, his graph has been on a high ever since he graduated from the Tata Football Academy. He was roped in by the Pailan Arrows and immediately drafted into the I-League starting XI. His main strength stays have been his runs which invariably catches the rival defence on the wrong foot.

A man of few words, George though was keen to share his Muscat adventures. "We performed really well under testing circumstances in Muscat. We were lower ranked and played against some good quality opposition. I am really happy we performed so well. It was a great learning curve."

He has already made an impression among his Seniors. "Mark my words, this is a very big star in the making," said seasoned Syed Rahim Nabi referring to Alwyn the other day. "I only pray he stays away from injuries. He is a special talent."

Alwyn smiled. He knows, his journey has just begun. "I have to last the distance. I need to be consistent and improve at every step."

The first few steps have been encouraging, now he has to stay focused and keep going.