15 July 2011
MOBILE phone giants, Airtel Zambia has unveiled an ambitious soccer talent search programme dubbed “Airtel Rising Stars” which will focus on identifying and nurturing upcoming players across the country.
The programme jointly launched with partner sponsor ENFIN Solutions will start with national trials on August 1 where about 300 participants are expected to compete for the 18 available places in each province.
Unveiling the launch in Lusaka, Airtel managing director Fayaz King said ultimately two boys will earn themselves a training camp in Cape Town, South Africa from October 23-30.
“Airtel has today unveiled an ambitious soccer talent programme that will focus on identifying and nurturing budding soccer talent from the grassroots onto a national stage. The programme dubbed “Airtel-Rising-Stars” will kick-off on the 1st August 2011,” he said.
The Airtel Rising Stars is an Africa wide programme providing a platform for upcoming soccer talent under the age of 17 to showcase their skill.
And Sport, Youth and Child Development Deputy Minister, Brian Sikazwe hailed the initiative saying it would provide a basis for formatting a national talent identification programme.
“This will be a fitting precursor to the desire by the Government to incept a national wide talent identification programme,” Sikazwe said.
ENFIN Solutions representative, Ponga Liwewe said the programme would give the premier league and junior national soccer teams selectors a chance to identify talent.
“This will provide a platform for the Under-17 national team selectors and premier league teams to eye talent,” Liwewe said.
He also said that current successful African teams like Ivory Coast, Ghana and Nigeria had excelled because of a planned youth structure.
Winners of the national tournament will pocket US $1,000 while runners-up will walk away US$ 500 richer.
And National Football League (NFL) interim president, Andrew Kamanga said the programme was a brainchild of NFL and that finals would be held on September 18.
Kamanga, who is ENFIN managing director, said the programme was meant to build a firm foundation for Zambian soccer.
He called for other sponsors to come on board and partner in the development of sport, saying the NFL also wanted to start an Under-15 boys and girls programmes.
The registration programme for the Airtel Rising Stars will kick-off on July 18 and end on July 25 and registration forms will be available in all nine provincial centres including Kitwe.
AllAfrica – All the Time