Airtel boost for Sri Lankan football
The football will be launched by the 'Airtel Rising Stars' program
for the second consecutive year in association with Manchester United,
Tharunyata Hetak and The Football Federation of Sri Lanka·
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All ready for the season.... (From left): Retired DIG Upali
Hewage – General Secretary, Football Federation of Sri
Lanka, Gary Pallister - Manchester United Legend, Wasantha
Senanayake and Suren Goonewardene CEO/MD, Bharti Airtel
Lanka unveils the footballs to announce the launch of Airtel
Rising Stars Season II. Pic: Vipula Amerasinghe |
'Airtel Rising Stars' is an islandwide talent hunt which will give 12
young Sri Lankan footballers, a chance-of-a-lifetime to train at the
Manchester United Soccer School in England and kick-off a career in
professional football·
Commencing end July 2013, this 3-month long talent hunt will involve
participation of over 10,000 young soccer players, age 14 - 19, across
14 cities in Sri Lanka and the best performers will be hand-picked
through a series of skill tests, real time match simulations, coaching
clinics conducted by the Asian Football Confederation A licensed coaches
appointed by the Sri Lanka Football Association and the Manchester
United Soccer School coaches.
This year too Airtel has the support of President Mahinda Rajapaksa,
Mahindananda Aluthgamage (Minister of Sports) and the youth organisation
Tharunyata Hetak for this initiative and are confident that this
platform will continue to inspire thousands of talented footballers to
become professional players, according to the organisers.
The unique format of 'Airtel Rising Stars' program which ensures that
every player gets an equal opportunity to showcase his/her skills will
be held in 3 rounds conducted over a span of three months.
Stage 1: Will involve an all island talent scout across 14 centers (Jaffna,
Colombo, Mannar, Anuradhapura, Trincomalee, Badulla, Kurunegala, Hatton,
Kandy, Kalutara, Matara, Negombo and Kalmunai).
Stage 2: Will shortlist the players to 48, who will assemble in
Colombo where Manchester United Academy Coaches will host an intensive
football camp. These players will then 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).
The final stage: Will involve 3 selection trials culminating in a
final where the final 12 football players will be chosen as the Top 12
Sri Lankan Airtel Rising Stars who will then be sent to train at the
Manchester United Academy for a week alongside the Manchester United
Academy team. |
