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Commencing end-July, 2013 this 3-month long talent hunt will involve participation of over 10,000 young soccer players from the ages of 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 and 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.
Bharti Airtel, a leading global telecommunications company with operations in 20 countries across Asia and Africa, yesterday announced the kick off of the second season of the ‘Airtel Rising Stars’ (ARS) soccer scouting program; an island-wide hunt for young and talented football players in Sri Lanka.
Launched in Sri Lanka in 2012 in association with Manchester United, ‘Airtel Rising Stars’ is a rigorous scouting program which over the span of the next three months will cover over 14 centres 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.
This initiative will be hosted successfully for the second consecutive year with the endorsement of President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the Minister of Sports Mahindananda Aluthgamage with the support of Tharunyata Hetak and the Football Federation of Sri Lanka.
This announcement was made yesterday at the Cinnamon Grand in Colombo in the presence of chief guest MP Wasantha Senanayake, Bharti Airtel Lanka CEO/ MD Suren Goonewardene, FFSL Chairman Youth Development Saif Yusoof and Manchester United Football Legend Gary Pallister.
Commenting on the initiative, Bharti Airtel Lanka CEO/MD Suren Goonewardene said: “The Airtel Rising Stars program was about giving twelve talented footballers a chance of a lifetime to achieve their football dreams. While we were elated with the success of the inaugural season of the program where twelve budding footballers were given the opportunity to train at Old Trafford and commence their careers in national football, we are more than delighted to launch the second season of the Airtel Rising Stars program which continues to bring football followers in Sri Lanka closer to their favourite game.”
Goonewardene added: “Given the mass appeal of football and a large youth population here in Sri Lanka, we are uniquely positioned to tap and nurture young soccer talent. As a game, football represents the principles of team-play and it makes the perfect fit for brand Airtel. We see Airtel Rising Stars as an exciting strategic step towards strengthening our brand positioning and appeal to the youth. With this unique programme, we are yet again looking forward to finding the best of young football talent in Sri Lanka and giving them the chance of becoming a part of the global soccer scene by training with the very best in the world.”
“This year too we are indeed humbled to have the support of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Minister of Sports Mahindananda Aluthgamage 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,” Goonewardene concluded.
The unique format of the ‘Airtel Rising Stars’ program which ensures that every player gets an equal opportunity to showcase his/her skills will be held in three rounds conducted over a span of three months. Stage 1 will involve an all-island talent scout across 14 
centres (Jaffna, Colombo, Mannar, Anuradhapura, Trincomalee, Badulla, Kurunegala, Hatton, Kandy, Kalutara, Matara, Negombo and Kalmunai). Stage 2 will shortlist the players to 48, who will then 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 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 then be sent to train at the Manchester United Academy for a week alongside the Manchester United Academy team.
The Football Federation of Sri Lanka and Tharunyata Hetak as key supporters and logistical partners of the Airtel Rising Stars program will use their football touch points across Sri Lanka to facilitate the roll out of the program.
Pix by Sameera Wijesinghe
