A face-off between two Dhaka-based football academies may have promised the prospect of an eye-pleasing game, but yesterday's opening fixture BFF (U-15) Academy Championship scarcely lived up to expectations at the Birshreshtha Shaheed Mostafa Kamal Stadium.

However, a thrilling finish was provided by Gopalganj Football Academy from Dhanmondi, who defeated Milon Football Academy from Khilkhet with a last-gasp strike on a bouncy artificial turf in Kamalapur.

It was a clash of contrasting styles as Gopalganj FA displayed fine individual skills, while their oppositions showed more collective prowess, in terms of maintaining possession.

In the second match between Karondika Inclusive Football Academy and Tiger Kids Football Academy at the same venue, spectators were treated to a scintillating free kick struck on the edge of the box by the former.

With the continuous absence of national school football, national age-group football and the youth development programme of the professional clubs, the introduction of BFF Academy Championship -- featuring 168 BFF-accredited football academies across the country -- can be a good platform for some 3700 budding footballers to hone their skills under certified coaches this time.

While there are many participating football academies that can only organise training without competing in tournaments to assess players' growth curve, this time the local game's governing body created a space for young footballers in the financial collaboration of FIFA Talent Development Scheme, worth BDT one crore.

Amid several obstacles in financial constraints, lack of training facilities and playing kits among others, these academies are run by individuals who possess a pure love for the sport, devoid of vested interest.

"I've loved football since childhood, but I could not fulfil my dream of becoming a footballer due to a lack of opportunity in Khilkhet. That's why I aspired to create a football academy for our neighbourhood children, so that they can play at the top level," Milon FA president, Shafiqul Islam Milon, told The Daily Star yesterday.

"It'd be better to receive some financial help because I've to bear some Tk 60-80 thousand from my own pocket despite the academy earning nearly Tk 40,000 per month from the students," he added.

Mahmudul Hasan, Gopalganj FA coach and former national full-back, also echoed similar sentiment. The AFC B-licence coach, who has been running his academy for the last six years, with 40 students currently at his disposal, urged BFF to arrange such a tournament once in three to four months.

Although Tiger Kids FA coach Imran Mridha Rubel is yet to obtain a coaching licence, the former footballer is teaching 100 youngsters in the Khilgaon region -- based on what he learned from coaches such as Wazed Gazi, Syed Jilani, Mahbubur Rahman Roxy, Kamal Babu and Abu Faisal during his short-lived playing career.

Milon FA coach Mohammad Asadul Islam, owning an AFC C licence certificate, however believes that all academies require certified instructors to generate good quality players from the grassroots.

"A win or defeat does not matter for me as I instructed the boys to show what they learned from me. I'm satisfied with the way they played with one-two touch football," Asadul said.

"Though there is a lack of proper football environment including the availability of ground, the main problem is that we need good quality coaches who can teach the footballers all basic techniques."