United Sports Football Club is going to start their campaign in the All India Football Federation-organized elite youth football league against Mohun Bagan on 13th December on Wednesday. 

The match, scheduled to be staged at Mohun Bagan ground has been scheduled to kick off at 11 am. More importantly, the team will have to take part in 10 matches within a month in the two-month home-and-away competition. The other participating teams also have the same schedule where they will have to participate in 10 matches within a month. United Sports is grouped with Kolkata’s three big teams, East Bengal, Mohun Bagan, Mohammedan Sporting and Sports Odisha FC. One team is expected to qualify for the knock-out stage.

The Belgian coach of United Sports Steve Herbots doubts the fulfilment of the Federation's actual purpose of conducting elite youth league. The Federation president revealed that in a bid to explore, scout, and create a talent pool the AIFF has decided to introduce under-17, under-15, and under-13 leagues across the country. 

Steve who is happy with the progress of the United Sports youth team after a preparatory match against the club's senior team Netaji Brigade said, "The competition so far I have heard will be for two months. I know most of the participating teams in the youth league have not yet finished their team selection process. When AIFF wants to explore and scout potential footballers for the future then how can such a short-phased competition can help the scouts and spotters to find out quality young footballers?”

Steve cited the example of Belgium and added, "Belgium also organizes the same elite youth league, but that runs for nine months. In Africa, this youth league continues for nine months and this league starts in the pre-season.”

The footballers playing in the under-17 youth league did not have to undergo a 'bone test' for age verification. So it is going to be certain that the participating teams will be fielding many over-aged footballers to earn qualification. It is learned that the AIFF has decided to organize the same 'bone test' (TW-3) before the forthcoming under-13 and 15 leagues. 

When asked about the issue, Steve explained, "Nowadays IOC (International Olympic Committee) is not accepting even the bone-test report for age verification. They want a report of another advanced test for age verification called the 'DNA Test'. But that is too expensive. Is it possible at all for the clubs in Indian football to organize such an expensive test for age verification? 

He advised, "So I feel AIFF should distribute some financial grants to the participating clubs in the youth league so that they can conduct this age verification test.”