By our Staff Reporter

Guwahati, July 17: Testament to the immense potential of the youth in football in the region, five young football players from Shillong are amongst the 16 most talented players of the fifth season of Tata Tea Jaago Re Inter Milan Soccer Stars ’12, who will represent India at a youth tournament in Milan in September this year.

Banpynkhrawnam Nogkhlaw, Garry Kynta, Frolic Sondkhar, Lalrintluanja and Yami Longvah from Shillong were  selected to represent their respective  schools at the zonal league matches held at Shillong and went on to be selected amongst the 37 most talented players for a week long training camp in Kolkata.

Speaking on the initiative,  Vikram Grover, Vice-President Marketing, Tata Global Beverages, said, “Through this initiative, Tata Tea aims to awaken young soccer talent across India and help them compete on the world stage. We are delighted to see the encouraging response this initiative has received year on year. What started off as a tournament 5 years ago is today India’s biggest platform for talented young players to make a mark in the sport. Tata Tea’s association with a reputed club like Inter Milan gives these 16 soccer stars access to world class coaching with the best mentors and an opportunity to go to Milan and experience soccer at the global level.”

The five-month long under-15 soccer talent hunt by Tata Tea in association with football club Inter Milan witnessed a participation of 6500 young players from over 650 schools in the fifth season, 37 of the most talented from 15 locations across the country were selected to be trained by Inter Milan coaches.  The 16 most talented players were chosen after a week-long intensive training session.

The fifth and the biggest season ever of the all India ‘Tata Tea Jaago Re Inter Milan Soccer Stars ’12’ kicked off in Bhubaneswar in December 2011 and went on to cover 15 cities across the length and breadth of the country. The Shillong zonal tournament was held on April 20, 2012. The national finals were played at Shillong on April 28, 2012.

Tata Tea Jaago Re Soccer Stars is a one of its kind soccer tournament for students aged between 10 - 15 years. The ‘Tata Tea Jaago Re Soccer Stars ’12 is Tata Tea’s attempt to connect with the youth of the country. The aim was to address young India and its enterprising youth willing to take charge of the country’s bright future through their actions. The idea was to suggest that tea is not only just a wake up drink but it also can be an effective tool or catalyst for individual and social awakening. The tournament offers the soccer stars, access to unparalleled training programmes.