As many as sixty city schools have sent entries to participate in the first ever Dhaka Metropolis School Football Tournament 2003.

The first round of the BFF organised tournament will begin on July 15. The 60 schools have been split into five zones with each zone having 12 schools.

Two teams from each group will make it to the 10-team final round.

Although, only schools of the capital were invited this time, The BFF have a plan to expand the tournament across the country next year.

"It's just the beginning. Our vision is far reaching. We want to see boys playing football in their school grounds as was the case twenty years ago," said former national winger and BFF assistant general secretary Ashrafuddin Ahmed Chunnu yesterday.

Talking to The Daily Star Sport, the hero of yesteryears, who is also the secretary of the school football tournament committee, said that the response they have got from the schools was awesome.

Chunnu also felt that the approach of the sponsors was encouraging too. A budget of Taka ten lakh has been estimated for the tournament.

Although Chunnu declined to name who would sponsor the tournament, it was learnt from a source close to the BFF that Dettol could be the one.

Chunnu revealed that they would provide Taka 500 to every school on match days as conveyance during the zonal round. The amount would be doubled in the final round. Besides, each team will get three footballs and outfits. Light refreshments after the matches have also been arranged.

The following 60 schools are taking part in the Tournament:

Zone: Dhaka West (Venue: Dhanmondi Club) - Rayer Bazar High School, Junior Laboratory School, Sunbeams, Loretto, Saint Joseph High School, Badshah Faisal Institute, South Breeze School, Govt. Laboratory School, Bengali Medium High School, West End High School, Rifles Public School and Dhaka Residential Model School.

Zone: Dhaka North (Venue: Uttara Police Lines) - Shahid Ramijuddin Bidyalaya, Uttara High School, Emarat Hossain Adarsha Bidyalaya, IAS School, Monikanan High School, Mollartek Udayan School, Badda Alatunnessa High School, Bangladesh International Tutorial, Kamarpara High School, Kachkura High School, Scholastica and Blue Bird Academy.

Zone: Dhaka South (Venue: Dhaka University Ground) - Segun Bagicha High School, Rahmatullah Model High School, Udayan High School, Millat High School, Nabakumar Institution, Shahid Nabi High School, Ahmed Bawani Academy, Saleha High School, Wari High School, Armanitola High School, Nawabpur High School and Dhaka Collegiate High School.

Zone: Dhaka East (Venue: Bashabo Play Ground) - Willes Little Flower School, Shah Noori Model High School, Faizur Rahman Ideal Institution, Ali Ahmed High School, Khilgaon High School, Kamalapur Sher-e-Bangla Railway High School, Motijheel Boys High School, Post Office High School, Haidar Ali High School, South Banasree Model High School, Kadamtala East Bashabo High School and Sher-e-Bangla High School.

Zone: Dhaka Central (Venue: Dhupkhola Ground) - National Bangla High School, Rajdhani High School, Shahid Abu Taleb High School, Islami Adarsha High School, Mirpur Bangla High School, Mirpur Shiddhanta High School, AK High School, Dolaipar High School, Jatrabari Ideal High School, Matuail Bahumukhee High School and Titas Gas Adarsha High School.