~18000 youth set to participate in the tournament~

Youth constitutes a significant percentage of the community in operational areas of Tata Group companies. Youth being the foundation of the future – for society as well as the nation – it is necessary to develop their future holistically by constructively engaging them in education, sports, skill enhancement etc. Football is one such sport that has followers transcending countries, cultures and continents and helps in engaging the ‘youth population’ in developing the philosophy of a healthy future.

Buoyed by last year’s fabulous response to the community football tournament, Tata Group companies have once again joined hands to kick-off the second edition of Tata Community Football Tournament in Kolhan region of Jharkhand. Tata Steel, Tata Motors, Tinplate and Tata Power – the Tata Group companies are organising the tournament which will be played over the next two months.

Speaking on a press conference held to announce the tournament, Mr. Sunil Bhaskaran, Dy. VP Corporate Services, Tata Steel said, “It’s a very unique initiative which engages youth in such a magnanimous numbers participating right from the grass root level involving the rural areas as well.” He further added, “I wish the very best to the participating youth for the tournament as well as for their future.”

Tata Community Football Tournament aims to encourage young talents to take up sports as their way of life and provide them with a platform to showcase their skills and get identified to further enhance their sporting talent by getting selected at the sports academies.

The football tournament is scheduled from the 15th June to 7th August’ 2013. Nearly 1200 teams representing around 18,000 youth will participate in the tournament. The participating teams will represent a mix from 40 urban and rural areas including Jamshedpur, Seraikela, Chaibasa, Manoharpur, Rajnagar, Chandil, Chakradharpur etc.

A total of 1000 players, from the under-16 age-group, will be identified during the course of the tournament, out of which around 50 best footballers will be shortlisted for further coaching and admission in football academies and leagues.
The finals of Tata Community Football Tournament will be held on the eve of International Day for Indigenous People on 8th August 2013 at Gopal Maidan, Jamshedpur. The finals, which will be witnessed by thousands of football enthusiasts, will be followed by a cultural fest which will uphold and celebrate the different aspects of tribal culture and identity.