Bengaluru FC Reserves and Academy

Bengaluru FC Reserves and Academy, also known as Bengaluru FC B, is Bengaluru FC's most senior youth team, and also acting as a reserve team. It participates in BDFA Super Division and Reliance Foundation Development League. Bengaluru FC Academy is the youth setup of Bengaluru FC. Its teams participate in Youth League, Junior League and Sub Junior League tournaments.

Bengaluru FC B

Full name	Bengaluru FC B
Nickname(s)	Blue Colts
Founded	July 20, 2013; 11 years ago (2013-07-20)[1]
Ground	Bangalore Football Stadium, Bengaluru
Capacity	8,400
Owner	JSW Group
Chairman	Sajjan Jindal
Head coach	Bibiano Fernandes
League	BDFA Super Division Reliance Foundation Development League Youth League
2023-24	Champion
Website	Club website
Home colours Away colours
Current season

In July 2020, Asian Football Confederation conferred two-star Academy status to Bengaluru FC Academy, one of only two academies in India.^[2]

Reserves

In October 2017, Bengaluru FC announced 28-member squad, which would act as a reserve side called Bengaluru FC 'B', led by Naushad Moosa and would compete in I-League 2nd Division for 2017–18 season. Reserve team would also act as a bridge between the BFC Academy and the first team.^[3] Reserves team made their first appearance in the annual G.V. Raja football tournament in Thiruvananthapuram.^[4]

The reserves team participated in 2017–18 BDFA Super Division and were placed fourth in the league, following the conclusion of the tournament, the team also participated in 2017–18 I-League 2nd Division and finished second in the group stage. Bengaluru FC 'B' won their first trophy under Naushad Moosa when they won 2018 Puttaiah Memorial Cup.^[5] The same season reserves team also won 2018–19 BDFA Super Division for the first time, and remained undefeated with 7 wins and 1 draw in 2018–19 I-League 2nd Division.^[6][7] In 2023–24 season of BDFA Super Division League, they emerged as unbeaten champion.^[8][9]

Squad

As of 3 August 2019^[10]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 1 GK  IND Dipesh Chauhan 2 DF  IND Johnson Singh Laishain 4 DF  IND Lalhmunmawia 5 DF  IND Likmabam Rakesh 6 MF  IND Freddy Chawngthansanga 7 FW  IND Lalthangliana 8 FW  IND Advait Shinde 9 FW  IND Bekey Oram 10 MF  IND Emanuel Lalchhanchhuaha 11 FW  IND Ronik Singh Moirangthem 12 FW  IND Ngangom Guenendro 13 GK  IND Raj Biswas

No. Pos. Nation Player 14 MF  IND Damaitphang Lyngdoh 16 MF  IND Biswa Kumar Darjee 18 DF  IND Robin Yadav 19 MF  IND Amay Morajkar 20 MF  IND Shighil NS 21 FW  IND Roshan Singh Naorem (Captain) 22 FW  IND Akashdeep Singh 23 DF  IND Namgyal Bhutia 29 FW  IND Sridarth Nongmeikapam 31 FW  IND Leon Augustine 38 DF  IND Mohammed Rafi 55 MF  IND Lalpekhlua Lalnuntluanga 57 MF  IND Sai Yashwant Reddy Panthy

Results

Season	Tournament	Zone	Final result
2017–18	BDFA Super Division	—	4th
	2nd Division	Group C	Group stage – 2nd
2018–19	Puttaiah Memorial Cup	—	Winners
	BDFA Super Division	—	Winners
	2nd Division	Group A	Group stage – 1st
2019–20	BDFA Super Division	—	Winners
	2nd Division	Group B	League suspended
2020–21	BDFA Super Division	—	Runners-up
2021–22	BDFA Super Division	—	4th
	RF Development League	—	Winners
	Next Gen Cup	Midlands	4th
2022–23
	Puttaiah Memorial Cup	Group B	Semifinals
	BDFA Super Division	—	5th
	2023 Stafford Challenge Cup	Group C	Group stage – 4th
	I-League 2	Group C	Group stage – 3rd
	RF Development League	—	Winners
	Next Gen Cup	Group A	7th[11]
2023–24
	Puttaiah Memorial Cup	—	Round of 16
	BDFA Super Division	—	Winners

Coaching Staff

Position	Name
Head coach	Bibiano Fernandes
Assistant coach	Kaizad Ambapardiwalla
Physiotherapist	Rahul CR
Video analyst	Prateek Chopra
Goalkeeping Coach	Parshuram Salwadi
S&C Coach	Nishad Nagaraj
Kit Manager	Krishna Khati
Kit Manager	Ravi
U 15 coach	Jason Brindley
Goalkeeper coach	Rashid Nalakath
Coach U13	Jeevan Jayaraj
S&C Coach	Dhruv Balaram
Physiotherapist	Girish Raj
Asst. Physiotherapist	Roy

Coaches

• Naushad Moosa (2017–2022)
• Jan Van Loon (2022–2023)
• Bibiano Fernandes (2023-present)

Academy

With the inception of Bengaluru FC in 2013, Bengaluru FC also started youth academy with the aim of "nurturing talent within the lower age groups with the possibility of creating players who are fit to represent the Blues’ first team." under Richard Hood as Head of Youth Development.^[12] Three years later in July 2016, Bengaluru FC started a residential academy at Vijaynagar, near Bellary under John Killa.^[13]

Under–18

Bengaluru FC youth team first participated in 2014 I-League U19, in Rest of India zone along with Hindustan, Aizawl, and Garhwal, where they placed second in the group stage and could not advance. In 2014–15 I-League U19 season, they were placed last in the group stage of Rest of India zone. In 2015–16 I-League U18, they were placed third in the group stage. After the set up of residential academy, U18 team convincingly won their group in Rest of India zone in 2016–17 season defeating Ozone FC and Fateh Hyderabad, while remaining unbeaten. ^[14] In final round the U18 team finished third in the group failed to advance to the semifinals.

Squad

As of 22 September 2019^[15]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 1 GK  IND Dipesh Chauhan 2 DF  IND Johnson Singh Laishain 4 DF  IND FC Lalhmunmawia 5 DF  IND Likmabam Rakesh 6 MF  IND Fredy Chawngthansanga 7 FW  IND Lalthangliana 9 MF  IND Bekey Oram 10 MF  IND Emanuel Lalchhanchhuaha 11 FW  IND Ronik Singh Moirangthem 12 FW  IND Ngangom Gunendro 13 GK  IND Raj Biswa

No. Pos. Nation Player 14 MF  IND Damaitphang Lyngdoh 17 DF  IND Jagdeep Singh 18 MF  IND Robin Yadav 20 MF  IND Shighil NS 22 FW  IND Akashdeep Singh 29 FW  IND Sridarth Nongmeikapam 32 MF  IND Vinith Venkatesh 33 DF  IND Joshua Wilson 35 FW  IND Macarton Louis Nickson 36 DF  IND Sarath Rajkumar 38 DF  IND Mohammed Rafi

Under–15

Bengaluru FC participated in the first ever U15 Youth League tournament and were placed in Rest of India II zone with Ozone FC, Fateh Hyderabad, Boca Juniors FS, Kovalam FC, Mahogany FC. Bengaluru finished second behind Ozone to qualify for national finals. In final round Bengaluru U15 drawn into Group A along with United, Aizawl and Sporting Goa. Bengaluru U15 placed third in the group stage and failed to advance.^[16] In 2016–17 season Under–16 team, playing in Rest of India zone (Goa) also won the group stage, winning all three games against Dempo, Salgaocar and Sporting Goa,^[17] however they lost to eventual champions, Minerva Punjab in the semifinals.

In 2017–18 season Under–15 team, won the Karnataka zone to qualify for national finals. In final round the team was clubbed with MSP FA, SAI Guwahati and FC Goa. Bengaluru topped the group and entered the semifinals, where they lost in penalty shoot-out to DSK Shivajians.

Notable alumni

In November 2016, Calvin Abhishek became the first academy graduate to be selected for the senior team.^[18] In August 2017 Bengaluru FC added two academy graduates, defender Prashanth Kalinga and forward Leon Augustine, to the squad for 2017 AFC Cup knockout rounds.^[19]

Name	Position	Bengaluru Career	League Appearances	League Goals
Calvin Abhishek	Goalkeeper	2016–2018	0	0
Prashanth Kalinga	Defender	2015–2017	0	0
Leon Augustine	Forward	2017–present	14	2
Paikhomba Meitei Khumanthem	Midfielder	2021–present
Lalpekhkua	Forward	2021–present

Soccer schools

In April 2014, the academy also started the initiative of Soccer schools to conduct summer camps, provide training and scout young talents. Soccer schools are currently operated at 5 locations in various parts of Bengaluru.^[20][21]

Coaches

• Richard Hood (2013–2015)
• John Killa (2015–2018)
• John Kenneth Raj (2018–present)

Results

Season	Tournament	Zone	Final Result
2014	Under-19	Rest of India	Zonal Group stage
2014–15	Under-19	Rest of India	Zonal Group stage
2015–16	Under-15	Rest of India II (Bengaluru)	Group stage[16]
	Under-18	Rest of India	Zonal Group stage
2016–17	Under-16	Rest of India (Goa)	Semi–finals
	Under-18	Rest of India	Group Stage
2017–18	Under-13	Karnataka	Disqualified
	Under-15	Karnataka	Semi–finals
	Under-18	Chennai–Karnataka	Final round
2018–19	Sub-Junior	Bengaluru Group B	Runners Up
	Junior	Bengaluru Group A	Runners Up
	Elite	Karnataka–Andhra	Final round
2019–20	Sub-Junior	Bengaluru Group A	Suspended due to COVID-19 pandemic in India
	Junior	Karnataka Group B
	Elite	Chennai & Bengaluru
2022–23	Elite	Group J	Group stage
2023–24	Elite	Group F	TBD

Honours

• Reliance Foundation Development League^[22][23]
  • Champions (2): 2022, 2023

See also

• Bengaluru FC Futsal

References

1. "JSW Sports launches Bengaluru FC". I-League. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 1 August 2013.
2. "AFC endorses AIFF with full membership of AFC Elite Youth Scheme". 4 July 2020. Archived from the original on 4 July 2020. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
3. "Bengaluru FC 'B' ready for inaugural season". 12 October 2017. Archived from the original on 31 January 2018. Retrieved 13 October 2017.
4. "G.V. Raja football tournament". 12 October 2017. Archived from the original on 18 January 2021. Retrieved 26 October 2017.
5. "Lalengzama to lead Bengaluru FC B in J&K Invitational Cup and Sikkim Gold Cup". bengalurufc.com. Archived from the original on 18 October 2018. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
6. "Bengaluru FC B lifts BDFA Super Division Trophy by beating ASC". sportscafe.in. 27 December 2018.
7. "Bengaluru FC B finish 2nd Division campaign unbeaten". 30 March 2019. Archived from the original on 30 March 2019. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
8. "BDFA Bangalore Men's Super Division 2023–24 Table". gcsstars.com. Bengaluru: GCS Stars Bengaluru. Archived from the original on 18 November 2023. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
9. "BDFA Bangalore Men's Super Division 2023–24 Leaderboard/Table". ksfa.in. Bengaluru: Karnataka State Football Association. Archived from the original on 18 November 2023. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
10. @bengalurufc (1 August 2019). "https://www.bengalurufc.com/bfc-b/bfc-b-squad/" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
11. "PL Next Gen Cup: Bengaluru FC wrap up campaign with a 2–1 win over Sudeva Delhi FC". indiansuperleague.com. 25 May 2023. Archived from the original on 26 May 2023. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
12. "Academy | Bengaluru Football Club". Archived from the original on 4 January 2017. Retrieved 2 January 2017.
13. "JSW Bengaluru FC announces plans for Residential Academy". 13 July 2016. Archived from the original on 4 January 2017. Retrieved 3 January 2017.
14. "Blue Colts draw against Ozone FA". 1 January 2017. Archived from the original on 4 January 2017. Retrieved 3 January 2017.
15. "Bengaluru FC U18s set for Vedanta Youth Cup Campaign". bengalurufc.com. Archived from the original on 23 September 2019. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
16. "U15 Youth League 2015–16". Archived from the original on 28 November 2016. Retrieved 2 January 2017.
17. "Bengaluru FC through to final round of U16 Y-League". 30 November 2016. Archived from the original on 4 January 2017. Retrieved 3 January 2017.
18. "A brush with the big stage". bengalurufc.com. 18 November 2016. Archived from the original on 14 February 2017. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
19. "Roca announces blues squad for 2017 AFC Cup knockout rounds". Bengalurufc.com. 16 August 2017. Archived from the original on 16 August 2017. Retrieved 16 August 2017.
20. "BFC Soccer schools". Archived from the original on 24 November 2016. Retrieved 2 January 2017.
21. "Centers – BFC Soccer Schools". Archived from the original on 4 January 2017. Retrieved 2 January 2017.
22. "Bengaluru FC crowned RFDL Champion after a thrilling title defence against Sudeva Delhi FC". indiansuperleague.com. Indian Super League. 14 May 2023. Archived from the original on 14 May 2023. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
23. Sports Desk, JE (14 May 2023). "Bengaluru FC Crowned RFDL Champion After A Thrilling Title Defence Against Sudeva Delhi FC". english.jagran.com. New Delhi: Jagaran English. Archived from the original on 15 May 2023. Retrieved 15 May 2023.

External links

• Official website