The TFA recently sent Rabin Singh, a promising midfielder, to a premier club in Dubai for a month-long training. Singh, who is from Delhi, was in the national under-17 preparatory camp last season but had to leave the camp midway owing to injury. He has made a new beginning with a stint in Dubai.

“This is a new venture taken by the academy. We are trying to explore opportunities for our quality players and want to give them the best level of training. Sending Singh to Dubai was a part of the process,” TFA coach Ranjan Chowdhury told The Indian Express.

“We are constantly in touch with the foreign clubs where we want to send our trainees,” he added.

In a bid to spot talent, the TFA has opened four non-residential camps in Jharkhand and Orissa three months back. About 400 youngsters are presently training at the TFA’s Noamundi, Jamadoba, West Bokaro and in Kalinga Nagar camps.