Thiruvananthapuram: An international football tournament for women will  be hosted in Kochi in December 2021 as part of a collaboration with the All India Football Federation (AIFF) to promote and encourage football at various levels.

As part of the programmes, and in a bid to promote and encourage women's football, the Government of Kerala along with the All India Football Federation and Kerala Football Association will host the international football tournament in Kochi, ahead of the AFC Woman’s Asia Cup India 2022 which is slated to be held from January 20-February 6, 2022, the Kerala Football Association said in a release on Monday.

Furthermore, Kerala will host the final round of the 75th Santosh Trophy National Senior Football Championship, Kerala Sports Minister V Abdurahman announced at a press conference organised at the secretariat here on Monday. The minister also informed that the next junior and sub-junior national football championships for boys and girls will also be held in Kerala.

AIFF Deputy General Secretary Abhishek Yadav was present on the occasion, as was Kerala Football Association (KFA) Executive Committee member Dr. Reginald Varghese. "The initiatives being taken by the Government of Kerala will inspire and provide an ideal platform to boys and girls from the state to progress to professional football, and also the National Teams," Abhishek Yadav said on the occasion.

The AIFF and the KFA will also support the organisation of Golden Baby Leagues as well as the Youth Leagues from the local level to the state level.

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