It may sound odd, still Bengaluru FC which lost the ISL Cup to Mohun Bagan Super Giants (MBSG) two days ago, is being again linked someway to MBSG in another duel on Monday evening! 

MBSG under-21 will face Manipore’s Classic Football Academy in the final of the RFDL U-21 national championship at the Reliance Corporate Park, Mumbai on Monday evening. 

Renedy Singh, the former India international is the assistant coach of Bengaluru FC’s senior team and at the same time, he is the mentor of Classic Football FA. 

In fact, Renedy started the project in 2017 and the academy was named Renedy Singh Football School before Classic Group of Hotels joined hands in 2019 since then the academy has got a new name, Classic FA. 

Chandam Chitrasen Singh, Renedy’s brother, also a TFA scout and a former junior India international has been the chief coach. He is aware of MBSG's senior squad's unbeatable runs that helped them record the ISL Shield and Cup this season. 

He smiled when asked whether Classic FA would be able to stop MBSG’s winning streak in the Under-21 level! “They are also a good side, comprising most of the reserve-team players of their ISL team, but not unbeatable. We had a draw against them in the group league. So, I am hopeful that the boys will finally be able to have the last-laugh,” explained Chandam Chitrasen.

Renedy made a video-call on Saturday and encouraged the boys for the final.  Chandam divulged, “Renedy’s messages were a big inspiration for the boys. He often calls and talks to them whenever gets time. He always visits the academy training whenever returns home.”

Classic FA that already qualified for the RFDL's Next Gen Cup this season, has also an impressive statistics considering to the national call-ups in recent times. Seven of their boys were in the Under-17 SAFF Championship-winning India team this year. Seven more have also been called-up in the Under-20 national preparatory camps. 

Chandam Chitrasen also affirmed that the owners of Classic Group are so passionate about the academy’s development that they already had initiated and almost materialized a merger of Classic FA with a Spanish Club academy. “But due to the turmoil in Manipore, their initiative failed to mature finally,” informed the coach.

The political chaos in the state has also affected the academy in another way. Classic FA had a couple of highly talented footballers who were Kukies. They were forced to join NorthEast United FC when the turmoil reached an extreme level. 

Chandam Chitrasen revealed, “I hope the situation will be normal one day and Classic FA will get its Kuki players whose presence will strengthen the team.”