OREANDA-NEWS. December 5, 2011. Tata Global Beverages, the world’s second largest tea company, today, announced the launch of the ‘Tata Tea Jaago Re Inter Milan Soccer Stars’. Tata Tea in partnership with leading football club FC Internazionale Milano (Inter Milan) is all set to launch the hunt for the under-15 soccer talent in India from December this year.

The Tata Tea Jaago Re Inter Milan Soccer Stars initiative will cover 15 cities across the length and breadth of the country with participants from over 1,000 schools. This initiative was started in 2007, with an aim to identify and nurture grassroots level football talent in India and put them on a global platform.

Announcing the fifth season, Sanjiv Sarin, regional president, South Asia, Tata Global Beverages, said, “Since inception Tata Tea Soccer Stars has grown manifold and gone on to become the country's most comprehensive football development programme at the grassroots level. This year the Tata Tea Soccer Stars programme is adding a new dimension and experience with the historic tie-up with FC Internazionale Milano (Inter Milan), one of the world’s most successful football clubs. This tie-up not only brings with it the club’s massive history and tradition but also gives the children a new and exciting opportunity to learn from one of the most successful football systems in the world.”

Today, this unique initiative is held across 15 cities in the country and will attract more than 15,000 respondents from over 1,000 schools. The overwhelming response in the past has encouraged Tata Tea to move to deeper pockets of the country. The key highlights of this season are:

It is an all-India soccer tournament played across four zones and 15 cities for school students aged between 10 and 15 years.

The winning team of each zone will qualify for the finals at Shillong.

15 teams compete in the national final to decide the all-India champion team.

30 of the most talented children get selected for further coaching by FC Internazionale Milano (Inter Milan) and Indian coaches.

The final 16 will represent India at a youth friendly tournament in Milan.

Commenting on the initiative, Ernesto Paolillo, CEO, FC Internazionale Milano (Inter Milan) said, “It is an honour for us to partner with Tata Tea Jaago Re Soccer Stars to further the development of Indian football at youth level. Our aim is to train these high calibre and passionate footballers, and help them make a mark in this global sport. I am sure this initiative will engage diverse youth and awaken the true soccer spirit of the country.”