Jaffna's Airtel Rising Stars impress everyone
The first round of the Airtel Rising Stars selections kicked off in
grand style on August 1 at the Doraiappa stadium in Jaffna with over 500
young hopefuls vying for a dream opportunity to train at the legendary
Manchester United soccer academy in the UK.
After a rigorous day of try outs, three youngsters A Jennet from
Nawalthurai R.C. School, M Harrison from St. Henry's College Illavalai
and F. Ahilan from Hindu College Manippai were selected. These three
budding footballers will travel down to Colombo for the next stage of
the programme which is a two day soccer camp conducted by the Manchester
United coaches.
Four Asian Football Confederation class 'A' coaches appointed by the
Sri Lankan football federation judged the players performance through a
series of skill tests, and subsequently real life match scenarios. The
scenarios were tailor made taking into consideration their physical and
mental strength, expertise in positions and technical acumen.
Airtel Rising Stars is a rigorous scouting program which over the
next month will cover 13 centers across Sri Lanka and choose the final
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 programme will be held in three rounds and at the end of which
the top 12 players between the ages of 15-20 will be chosen. 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 two will narrow
the applicants down to 48 shortlisted players who will assemble in
Colombo where Manchester United Academy Coaches will host an intensive
football camp. The final stage will involve three 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 be sent to
train at the Manchester United Football Academy in England. AIRTEL |
