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Wednesday, 6 August 2014 00:01 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
In a countrywide talent hunt, Y.U.A. Sanka Jayamina Vidanaarachchi from Kingswood College, Kandy and Ganeswaran Antony Raj from St. Henry’s College, Jaffna were selected to represent Allianz Insurance Lanka Ltd at the prestigious Allianz Junior Football Camp scheduled to kick off on the 20 August at FC Bayern Munchen, a top class football facility in Germany.
Vidanaarachchi and Ganeswaran will join nearly hundred youth footballers from 30 countries in this unique six-day football adventure that aims to connect football fans from around the world to experience and respect different cultures, develop social and leadership skills, build personality and teamwork.
The Allianz Junior Football Camp is part of the global Allianz “Football for Life” sustainability initiative that offers participants the rare opportunity to improve their techniques and skills apart from experiencing the exciting world of professional football with the renowned FC Bayern Munchen football club.
Football plays an important role in the lives of millions of youngsters around the world. With Germany winning the 2014 FIFA World Cup, this year’s coaching camp will become even more significant and memorable for the participants as the journey will also open up new avenues to establish friendships with football stars from around the world.
This year’s hunt for two deserving Sri Lankan youth footballers was done via a country wide appeal for applications through main stream media. Further, Allianz Lanka staff in 50 branch locations engaged in sourcing passionate youth footballers for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Fifty shortlisted candidates were called for interviews for final selection. The selection panel consisted of senior Allianz officials. The two candidates were selected on the basis of passion for the game, ambition, character and sports achievements. Allianz Lanka will bear the cost of the overall program for the two Sri Lankans. The Allianz Junior Football Camp was first organised in 2009 with 34 teenagers from nine countries. By 2013, the fifth annual coaching camp attracted 75 young footballers from 25 countries including Sri Lanka. Allianz Junior Football Camp 2014 will be the second consecutive year where two Sri Lanka teenagers will be taking part.
“We, Allianz Insurance always extend our supporting hands to serve society as a responsible corporate citizen creating value in different ways. The Allianz Junior Football Camp is one of the best CSR projects that Allianz Insurance involves itself in. We hope that these two kids will make the most of this opportunity not only for their football career, but also in becoming good citizens for the motherland,” Allianz Insurance Lanka Ltd CEO Surekha Alles said.
Last year Allianz Lanka created the opportunity for local youth football players to participate in the Allianz Junior Football Camps held in Germany and Thailand. Allianz Lanka is a fully owned subsidiary of the Munich based insurance conglomerate Allianz SE.
Pic by Sameera Wijesinghe
