{"id":1477,"date":"2022-07-04T19:54:22","date_gmt":"2022-07-04T19:54:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.enjogo.com\/newsletter\/?p=1477"},"modified":"2025-05-20T06:17:49","modified_gmt":"2025-05-20T06:17:49","slug":"celebrating-chandigarhs-largest-football-league","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.enjogo.com\/newsletter\/celebrating-chandigarhs-largest-football-league\/","title":{"rendered":"Celebrating Chandigarh’s largest football league"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

It was 2012. The team at enJogo-Bhaichung Bhutia Football Schools (BBFS)<\/a> was expanding operations after starting centers in Delhi. Chandigarh was the next stop to open the non-residential academies. Chandigarh has produced sporting greats for India. But the tri-city lacked a football culture<\/a>.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I was conceptualizing the Chandigarh Football League, I envisioned creating a brand rather than just an event. The motive was to have a long-term impact and nurture young talent<\/a>,\u201d quipped Ankit Arora, Chief Operating Officer of enJogo-BBFS. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The idea of the Chandigarh Football League (CFL) acted as a launchpad to start football centers in the region. However back then, nobody foresaw the event becoming a flagship property and such a big sporting carnival. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Within three months of the first edition, enJogo-BBFS started a center in Shivalik Public School, Mohali. The first batch had most students from Chandigarh Football League (CFL). As of today, enJogo-BBFS operate five centers across the tri-city. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m thankful to Mr. Bedi, the Director of Shivalik Public School. When we were about to start our operations in Chandigarh, I pitched him the idea of CFL and told him about my journey of leaving the engineering field and joining a football startup. He not only accepted our proposal but helped us along the way. Things took off from there,\u201d continued Ankit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chandigarh never had enough football competitions. Children were deprived of opportunities and had limited interaction with the game. The CFL started to solve this problem<\/a>.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cEach player gets to play at least nine games. It is a mandate for all participants to get playing time. They learn and grow through the tournament. The coaches make it a point to work on their physical, mental, social, technical, and tactical abilities,\u201d said Jaskaran Singh Bhullar, Center Head of enJogo-BBFS, Chandigarh. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Changing a culture<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When the league started, the initial challenges were aplenty. Most players never played a football league<\/a>. The organizing team started to raise awareness amongst coaches and parents first. Then came the children. But as seasons went by, the demand saw a surge. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOver the years, we noticed that the schools which did not encourage football have created their teams. Thanks to the Chandigarh Football League. The demand has increased significantly, and now we see parents, kids, and coaches eager to participate every year. It has become a festival, and everyone waits for the event to start,\u201d continued Jaskaran. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over the last nine editions, the CFL has engaged 3000+ players. The age groups range from U-7 to U-18 and are divided into six groups. The selection of teams happens following the below-mentioned process:  <\/p>\n\n\n\n