Jamshedpur FC Reserves Make Historic RFDL National Group Stage Debut

Jamshedpur FC Reserves Rewrite Club History at RFDL National Group Stage

There’s a new buzz around Jamshedpur FC Reserves, and for good reason—they’ve just cracked the Reliance Foundation Development League (RFDL) National Group Stage for the very first time. You don’t see fresh-faced U17 and U18 squads making this kind of leap every season. Most clubs field older, more experienced reserves, but Jamshedpur’s belief in youth development is getting real results. After locking down third place in the Northeast Zonal Round, they secured that coveted ticket to go toe-to-toe with some of the country’s most promising teams.

Landing in Group A, Jamshedpur’s kids were immediately up against heavy hitters: East Bengal FC, Kickstart FC, NorthEast United FC, FC Goa, and Diamond Harbour FC. All the action was set at Reliance Corporate Park in Navi Mumbai. Their campaign spanned from March 23 to April 4, packing in five high-stakes matches, which went live on the @RFYouthsports YouTube channel for anyone keen enough to tune in.

Match Days, Milestones, and Momentum

Jamshedpur started their RFDL run in Mumbai on March 21, just a couple days before everything kicked off. Getting into the swing of things, their opening game was quickly followed by fixtures every few days—a true test of both endurance and depth in their lineup. Despite entering the fray as the underdogs, Jamshedpur made a statement early. Their clash with NorthEast United FC especially stood out, where they wasted no time building a solid 2-0 lead with both fluid attacking moves and resolute defending. That victory wasn’t a one-off—they stamped their arrival in the group with several decisive performances, keeping opponents on their toes.

Head coach Kaizad Ambapardiwala couldn’t hide his excitement about what the team was achieving. When asked about the pressure of going up against more seasoned academy teams, he emphasized that development remains the main goal—but you could tell he secretly wanted to take a big scalp or two. "These boys have shown heart beyond their years. They’re not just here to learn, they want to win," he said in a post-match chat.

• March 23: First group game, setting the tone against strong opposition.
• March 26 & 29: Continued fixtures, including a headline matchup versus East Bengal FC.
• April 1 & 4: Wrapping up the group stage, knowing every point could mean a spot in the knockouts.

The results kept building. Both Jamshedpur FC and Diamond Harbour FC picked up huge wins in their opening matches, with Jamshedpur’s tight defense becoming a mini-highlight reel on the livestreams. Fans started noticing just how well-drilled and fearless this young squad really was, especially as they managed to keep out the more physically imposing sides.

Making it to the semifinals was another layer on their fairytale run. The matchup? Mohun Bagan Super Giant Reserves—the kind of game that gives young players goosebumps. Suddenly, conversations around the team shifted from “aren’t they a nice prospect” to “can these kids pull off the unthinkable?”

What’s made this Jamshedpur story stick is that they’re doing it their own way. Prioritizing youth, they’ve built a real identity—one defined by resilience, quick transitions, and a refusal to be bullied by older, bigger squads. The RFDL National Group Stage has always promised future Indian football icons, but this year, it’s Jamshedpur FC Reserves who’ve put their name firmly in the mix.