Airtel Rising Stars - Goa: Set for August 18/19 trials

The Airtel Rising Stars programme, a nationwide under-16 soccer talent hunt, will hold its Goan-leg over the weekend of August 18/19 at the Poriat Ground in Calangute.

Interested children born on or after 1st January, 1996 can register through the official Facebook Fanpage www.facebook.come/airtelsoccer . Forms can also be collected from the Goa Football Association at GFA office, 5th Floor, Atmaram Commercial Complex, Opp Nova Goa Hotel, Panaji, Goa 403 001.

Also local Goans schools have been invited to send their top 12 footballers in the same age group to the open trials. The schools have been asked to send in their list of participants to the above address by sending a written letter to the GFA office address listed above by August 10.

Out of all applicants who appear on the first day, 120 boys will be short listed and called back on Day two (August 19) for further individual screening, while at the end of the second day there will be three finalists from Goa, who would then participate in the national finals.

The Airtel Rising Stars programme is spread over three months with the talent hunt being conducted in 16 Indian cities of Mumbai, Delhi, Panaji, Kolkata, Bangalore, Calicut, Chandigarh, Guwahati, Shillong, Pune, Kochi, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Chennai, Hyderabad and Jaipur, all with the support of the respective State and District Football Associations.

Launched in association with Manchester United, 'Airtel Rising Stars' is a rigorous scouting programme that will cover 16 cities across India and choose 12 talented footballers who will get the chance-of-a-lifetime to attend a week long training camp with Manchester United in Old Trafford, England.

The best three players from each of the 16 cities will be picked to attend a final six-day camp-cum-selection trial conducted by coaches from Manchester United. These 48 players will be divided into four teams of 12 each and will be tested on all parameters (including physical attributes, individual skills, match situations and their performances in actual matches) before 12 of the best players are chosen to travel to Manchester United for a week and to train alongside the Manchester United Academy team.