AIFF development programme coordinator P Shaji says the Goa edition has beaten the three previous editions in terms of participation. The AIFF had initiated the programme in 2005 to give youngsters an opportunity to showcase talent.

Twenty five teams registered this year, of which one — Arunachal Pradesh - were debarred due to overage. There were 24 in the last edition in Chennai, but eight were debarred due to overage.

“Overall performance was encouraging. It augurs well for the future of the game,” Shaji said.

The festival allowed the AIFF to select 30 probables for the upcoming AFC under-14 festival to be held in Iran in the second week of May. These names will be announced later.

Next year the event will be organised for under-13s. The festival, says Shaji, is basically an educational programme for the budding players, which is why there is no winner at the end of the festival.

Each participating team had to play six matches and were awarded points on the basis of the overall performance. “For positive play teams could accumulate points in each match,” said Shaji.

Points were deducted for unsporting conduct. Each yellow card flashed meant a deduction of 10 points.