Young footballers from the ancient capital city shine

The third leg of the first round of selections for the Airtel Rising Stars  was held at the Prison’s Sports Club Anuradhapura with over 500 applications received from young footballers, all hoping for a dream-come-true opportunity to train at the legendary Manchester United soccer academy in the UK.

After a gruelling try out session, three youngsters Thanarathnam Venugaran from Vavuniya, Y.M. Ishata Madaranga from Thisawera and K.M. Jagath Priyantha Nawarathna from Galenbindunuwewawere selected as the winners of ARS Anuradhapura. These promising footballers will later travel down to Colombo for stage two of the program, a two day soccer camp conducted by the Manchester United coaches.

Four Asian Football Confederation A licensed 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 span of the next one month will cover 13 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.

The program will be held in three rounds at the end of which the top 12 players between the ages of 15-20 will be chosen. Stage one 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 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.