Beginning this August, a statewide talent scouting programme opened the doors to professional football for aspiring players from Karnataka’s districts, with the first trial kicked off from Davangere.

Bengaluru : Karnataka is widening its football talent pipeline beyond Bengaluru through the Tyger IKF-KSFA Namma Karnataka Trials, with Davangere having hosted the first scouting trial. The statewide talent hunt, organised by India Khelo Football (IKF) in partnership with the Karnataka State Football Association (KSFA), aims to identify and develop promising young footballers from across the state.

The initiative comes against the backdrop of a long-standing gap in Karnataka’s football ecosystem, where organised scouting, competitive exposure and professional opportunities have largely remained concentrated in Bengaluru. The Namma Karnataka Trials seek to take structured scouting directly to districts, enabling young players from smaller cities and towns to access opportunities that have traditionally been limited to established football centres.

Gaurav Gupta, Founder, Managing Director & CEO, Tyger Capital said, “The true value of initiatives like these lies beyond identifying talent. They help create belief. By taking structured scouting closer to young footballers across Karnataka, the Tyger IKF–KSFA Namma Karnataka Trials are making opportunities more inclusive and aspiration more accessible.”

Following the Davangere trial, the scouting programme will cover Mysuru, Hubballi-Dharwad, Kodagu, Bengaluru South, Bengaluru North, Bengaluru Central, Belagavi, Udupi, Shivamogga, Karwar and Kalaburagi, bringing both established and emerging football regions under a common scouting framework.

The programme is also expected to strengthen opportunities for women footballers across Karnataka. Through its association with IKF’s Nari Shakti initiative, the trials will seek to create greater access to structured training and competitive pathways for young girls beyond Bengaluru.

Phani Bhushan, Director of India Khelo Football, said, “Karnataka has passion, potential, and untapped talent. Our role is to bring structure, transparency, and opportunity to every district we touch.”

The statewide initiative has received support from football clubs and academies including Bengaluru FC, Kemps FC, Rebels FC, Sporting Club Bengaluru, Rush Academy and The Sports School, which see district-level scouting as an important step towards building a stronger local talent pool.

The Namma Karnataka Trials are designed to connect district-level players with a transparent and structured scouting system, giving promising footballers the opportunity to be evaluated and potentially progress towards higher levels of competition and professional football.

With the first trial already completed in Davangere and further district-level trials scheduled in the coming weeks, the initiative is expected to bring thousands of young footballers into the organised scouting ecosystem. The programme will culminate in State Finals in Bengaluru, bringing together the most promising talent identified across Karnataka.

Registrations for all districts are now open at indiakhelofootball.com/season6.

About Tyger Capital:

Tyger Capital is a non-banking financial company (NBFC) providing customized financial solutions across semi-urban and rural India. Its vision is to support micro-entrepreneurs — be it a farmer, a transporter, or a small business owner. Its subsidiary, Tyger Home Finance, provides home loans to first-time home buyers. Founded in 2017, Tyger operates through over 235 branches across eight states. It has a loan book of over ₹8,700 crores and has supported more than 200,000+ micro-entrepreneurs and homeowners. Guided by a customer-first philosophy, Tyger Capital leverages technology to make the lending process simple, quick, and accessible, aiming to be the most convenient financial partner for its customers.

About India Khelo Football:

India Khelo Football (IKF) is a Section 8 non-profit phygital grassroots scouting ecosystem that annually reaches 100+ cities and villages, assesses 15,000+ players, and connects talent with 20+ ISL, I-League clubs and top academies. IKF runs nationwide trials, scout certification, mentor-led development and Career 360 programs to create professional, educational and livelihood pathways for young players. Through corporate partnerships, community outreach and talent showcases, IKF builds scalable pipelines into Indian football while promoting inclusion, especially for girls and underserved regions.