Tata Tea Jaago Re: 16 boys selected for Milan trip

Sixteen school footballers from India in the under-15 age group have been selected from the Tata Tea Jaago Re Inter Milan Soccer Stars to represent India at a youth football tournament in the Italian city of Milan in September 2012 besides getting training at Inter Milan.

This season Italian giants Internazionale Milan were the new partners of fifth season of the Tata Tea Jaago Re Soccer Stars program. In the national finals in Shillong the top 16 schools from across India took part after 15 zonal qualification tournaments were held with over 6,500 childen from close to 1,100 schools taking part.

Youngster Yami Longwah from Shillong said, "We are very excited to play with the famous club Inter Milan. I always dreamt of playing at a club like Inter. It is a dream come true for me."

In total 38 children were identified from all the tournaments by head scout Jamshid Nassiri, the Iranian who is a former Kolkata Maidan star, and his scouting team for the coaching camp with local and Inter Milan coaches Marco Monti and Massimo Ciocci. In the end after a week long training camp in Kolkata 16 boys were chosen from this group to represent India in the international youth tournament in Milan, Italy.

"This has emerged as India's biggest talent hunt in five years. Our association with Inter Milan gives these youngsters access to top coaching and an opportunity to go to Milan for a worldclass football experience," said Vikram Grover, vice-president marketing, Tata Global Beverages.


Selected INDIA U-15 Boys

Goalkeepers
Frolic Sondkhar (Shillong), Garry Kynta (Shillong)

Defenders
Nishu Kumar (Chandigarh), Gursevak Singh (Ludhiana, Captain), Banpynkhrawnam Nongkhlaw (Shillong), Yami Longvah (Shillong)

Midfielders
Prakash Nayak (Bhubaneswar), Praneet Purohit (Delhi), Lalrintluanja (Shillong), Raju Biswas (Kolkata), Bonti Mondal (Kolkata), Premananda Singho (Kolkata)

Forwards
Saurav T.P. (Calicut), Yash Sardesai (Pune), Aswini Bhola (Lucknow), Machung Tshering Bhutia (Gangtok)

Jaago Re Soccer Stars 2012: Switch from Arsenal to Inter Milan!

Tata Global Beverages Limited, the world's second largest tea company, has announced a new European football club partner for their grassroot football campaign 'TATA TEA Jaago Re Soccer Stars'. In the fifth edition of the school competition Italian giants Internazionale Milan will replace English Premier League side FC Arsenal.

The fifth edition is set to kick-off in December 2011 with the Tata Tea Jaago Re Inter Milan Soccer Stars initiative covering 15 cities across the length and breadth of the country with participants from over 1,000 schools. This initiative was started in 2007, with an aim to identify and nurture grassroot level football talent in India and put them on a global platform.

Announcing the fifth season, Sanjiv Sarin, Regional President - South Asia, Tata Global Beverages, said, "Since inception TATA TEA Soccer Stars has grown many folds and gone onto become the country's most comprehensive football development program at the grassroot level. This year the TATA Tea Soccer Stars program is adding a new dimension and experience with the historic tie-up with FC Internazionale Milan, one of the world's most successful football clubs. This tie-up not only brings with it the club's massive history and tradition but also gives the children a new and exciting opportunity to learn from one of the most successful football systems in the world."

Commenting on the initiative Internazionale Milan CEO Ernesto Paolillo said, "It is an honour for us to partner with Tata Tea Jaago Re Soccer Stars to further the development of Indian football at youth level. Our aim is to train these high caliber and passionate footballers, and help them make a mark in this global sport. I am sure this initiative will engage a diverse youth and awaken the true soccer spirit of the country."

This edition will be held across 15 cities and it is expected to attract upto 15,000 respondents from over 1,000 schools. The overwhelming response in the past has encouraged Tata Tea to move into deeper pockets of the country.

The key highlights of this season are

- It is an all-India football tournament played across four zones and 15 cities for school students aged between 10 and 15 years
- The winning team of each zone will qualify for the finals at Shillong
- 15 teams compete in the national final to decide the All India Champion Team
- 30 of the most talented children get selected for further coaching by Internazionale Milan and Indian coaches
- The final 16 will represent India at a youth friendly tournament in Milan, Italy

16 Indian boys for Arsenal Soccer Festival

16 boys have been named to represent India at the 21st Arsenal International Soccer Festival in London in July 2011. Earlier 30 boys had been short-listed for a two week camp from May 16 to 30 from whom these 16 boys have been picked by coaches from English giants FC Arsenal.

The 'Arsenal Tata Tea Jaago Re Soccer Stars' is a national school football tournament which is organised by Tata Tea in association with English Premier League club FC Arsenal London for children aged between 10 - 15 years. The tournament kicked-off on December 14, 2010 and was held across 15 cities - Mumbai, Akola, Bhubaneswar, Indore, New Delhi, Chandigarh, Ludhiana, Varanasi, Kolkata, Bangalore, Kozikode, Lucknow, Goa, Gangtok and Shillong with each city having its own elimination rounds, culminating in national finals in Shillong in April 2011.

From the cities legs and the national final 30 boys were chosen for the final camp. The current season is the fourth edition of the 'Arsenal Tata Tea Jaago Re Soccer Stars' and has witnessed a record participation of more than 7,000 budding players from 1,000+ schools from across India. Season 4 of 'Arsenal Tata Tea Jaago Re Soccer Stars' saw its first foray into the Northeastern states like Sikkim and Meghalaya.

Sumit Handa, Marketing Manager Tata Global Beverages, announced the 16 shortlisted players who will be participating in the 21st Arsenal International Soccer Festival yesterday at the end of the two week camp. Three boys each come from New Delhi, Chandigarh, Shillong and Gangtok; while two from Bangalore plus one each from Kozhikode and Bhubaneswar. Gur Simrat Singh has been named captain of the squad.

Speaking on the occasion Sumit Handa said, "There is a need for greater visibility of opportunities and options available in Soccer so that young people can respond to their inner calling for this sport. Tata Global Beverages in association with Arsenal FC has worked to create the right environment for players with talent and passion for progress. With Arsenal Tata Tea Jaago Re Soccer Stars we seek to encourage a coordinated approach to Soccer at national and international level."

Andrew Douglous, the Head of the Arsenal Soccer School, said "We are glad to be associated with such an initiative started by Tata Global Beverages to promote soccer talent in India. This tournament is an incredible platform for the kids who aspire to take the world of sports by storm. It is imperative to build and provide an infrastructure that is able to respond to the individual needs of young people interested in the game of Soccer. This competition is proving instrumental towards identifying and nurturing the talent for the game of soccer. Youngsters should make use of this opportunity to build their future in the game of soccer."


The Final Indian 16 for the 21st Arsenal International Soccer Festival

Lalruat Puia (New Delhi), Zotham Mawia (Chandigarh), Jamborki Lokai (Shillong), Mani Maran (Bangalore), Nim Dorjee Tamang (New Delhi), Gur Simrat Singh (Chandigarh), Santosh Kumar (Bangalore), Khusen Mangar (Gangtok), Jamshed M.P. (Kozhikode), Sushil Maithie (Shillong), Bibek Bhutia (Gangtok), Abhiraj Vikram Singh (New Delhi), Anuj Yadav (Chandigarh), Tshering Zangpo Tamang (Gangtok), Chester Paul Lyngdoh (Shillong), Niranjan Sardar (Bhubaneswar)