Airtel launches second season of Airtel Rising Stars football talent search in Zambia

Airtel Zambia today announced the details of the second round of Africa’s largest youth football initiative – the Airtel Rising Stars soccer talent programme that aims to focus on identifying and nurturing budding soccer talent from the grassroots onto a national stage. The second season of the program – which follows a hugely successful inaugural year –provides a platform for upcoming soccer talent under the age of seventeen to showcase their skills to leading scouts and coaches, giving them an opportunity to further their football skills.

Speaking at the launch of the program Airtel Zambia Marketing Director, Mr. Navdeep Kapur said: “Last year’s extremely successful tournament is testament to the fact that football has a unique ability to connect and empower communities, as well as to create a positive community impact from the grassroots to a national level In our first year alone, we had countrywide participation from all provinces followed by an elimination process to select the 9 teams that participated in the national championships. This great turnout made it clear to us that we were on the right track with this tournament, which is why we are so eager for it to kick off this year.”

This year, ARS is being launched under the campaign “Zambitious,” which encourages the Zambian youth to rise above any challenges to achieve their dreams.

And speaking on behalf of the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) President, Mr Lee Kawanu said, “We welcome a new partner and sponsor, Airtel who has committed and is dedicated to uncovering and nurturing young talents who tomorrow will carry our flag, defend our colours and bring glory in the orange and green colours of the Chipolopolo. In Zambia we have enormous spirit, great ambition and an enviable amount of determination. And with various partners and sponsors coming on board to give a push to these talents and the administration, there is no measuring how high we can go”.

Mr. Kawanu added, “The coming on board of new partners and sponsors demonstrates too that the current situation in Zambian Football is one that is full of potential. With the right mind-set and the Zambian people behind us we have an opportunity to reach even greater height. From an administration and technical point of view I believe we have the right people in place. Perhaps not enough people, but these numbers can be augmented over a period of time when our financial situation is able to sustain some more qualified staff members. Through partnerships like the one we are unveiling today; we can meet the above shortfalls”.

Similar to last year, the program will be organized in the format of regional and national tournaments, and will culminate in an exclusive football camp under the tutelage of professional coaching staff. Top teams from each participating country will compete against each other for the title of Airtel Rising Stars African Champion.

And speaking during the launch, Director of Sports Mr. Bernard Nakachinda thanked Airtel and FAZ for coming together and strengthening the quality of soccer in Zambia “I am very proud and pleased to be here today to launch a programme and officially herald the start of a partnership between the Football Association of Zambia and Airtel Zambia. Government is proud of this partnership and the investment that Airtel is bringing into football development and the value and greater benefits that the platform of the Football Association of Zambia will bequeath to Airtel”.

The pan-African football tournament, which will span 16 Airtel markets across the continent, is designed to provide a platform for upcoming soccer talent under the age of seventeen to showcase their skills to leading scouts, coaches and have an opportunity to further their football skills. The initiative targets youths across the country and provides a structured platform for scouts, coaches, football authorities and other partners to tap into a vast pool of upcoming talent.

Airtel will spend close to K3 billion in this year’s tournament, which is double the amount spent from last year’s event. As a unique aspect of this year’s tournament, Airtel Zambia will also be awarding K400, 000.00 for each goal scored during the final games to each team, to be used towards the players’ education.

The Airtel Rising Stars registration will kick-off on 14 May 2012 and close on 30 June 2012; this is expected to draw participants from all ten provinces in Zambia. The registration forms will be available from all Airtel centres and at Football Association of Zambia offices (Football House).