4th Milind Deora Junior Soccer Championship to kick off on October 6

The 4th edition of the Milind Deora Junior Soccer Championship organised in association with English Premier League club Queens Park Rangers FC will kick-off on Saturday, October 6. South Mumbai will witness football packed weekends in the month of October at one of India's largest community football tournaments.

The Championship would also serve as a talent hunt for thirty talented youngsters who will be shortlisted for a coaching clinic that will be conducted exclusively by the Queens Park Rangers coaching teams from the UK. From this training camp, the two most talented youngsters will be selected for a five week long training stint at the Queens Park Rangers in-house coaching facility in London.

This year, the tournament will witness around 4000 students from 200 schools, with teams in the under-8, U-10, U-12, U-14, U-16 and U-18 categories of boys and girls competing at Mumbai's Western Railways football grounds at Lower Parel. The Championship is open to all South Mumbai schools including Municipal schools, Government aided schools and Private schools. The tournament will provide an equal and fair opportunity to talents from different backgrounds to showcase their skills on a common platform.

Talking about the championship, Minister of State for Communications and IT, Milind Deora said, "Football is a growing passion amongst today's youth. By organising such championships I hope to provide a platform to the youth to exhibit their football skills. I hope to provide football enthusiasts with the necessary infrastructure and help the coaches identify talent. I am sure that with a cohesive effort, we will be able to popularize and develop the sport in India."

QPR's head of community program, Andy Evans said, "We have been associated with the Milind Deora Soccer championship for the last four years; the participants have been increasing and we have witnessed some astounding talent. Even though this championship aims at bringing the South Mumbai community together, I am sure we would find some serious talent here who might play for India or even in the EPL."

The tournament is organised by the Milind Deora Initiative and EPL side Queens Park Rangers in association with Nirmal Lifestyles and managed by Saran Sports.