Hindustan Zinc, in partnership with the Rajasthan Football Association, has announced the commencement of a massive football project – the Zinc Football Youth Tournament, with an aim to create a funnel to identify and promote the best footballing talent in the state. The inaugural edition of Zinc Football Youth Tournament will be conducted over the next six months, covering all the 33 districts in the state and will see participation of more than 500 schools and over 5,000 young girls and boys under the age of 15 years.
Slated to kick-off from mid-January early next year, the Zinc Football Youth Tournament will start at the zonal levels, then to the state level in Rajasthan, the winners of which will move into the final face-off round to determine the ultimate Champion of Rajasthan, which is scheduled to be held in July at the fabled Zawar Stadium in Udaipur. Believing this to be the platform towards producing another Magan Singh Rajvi from the State, Zinc Football scouts will keep an eye on each and every match and player to spot the worthy talents and provide them an opportunity to be a part of the Zinc Football Academy at Zawar.
The Zinc Football Youth Tournament will be one of the biggest state youth tournaments in the country, and is in line with Hindustan Zinc’s commitment to ushering a football revolution in the state of Rajasthan. Zinc Football, the flagship youth football development programme of the company, with its residential academy and community outreach initiatives, has already started to make a mark in the football landscape of the state and the country.
Speaking on the launch of the tournament, Hindustan Zinc Ltd. CEO Sunil Duggal said, “Hindustan Zinc has already been building a robust grassroots football structure through Zinc Football over the past couple of years. Today, we embark on another journey to take this vision forward and spread the fervour of football far and wide across Rajasthan by leveraging the power of the world’s most loved sport. Starting from Rajasthan, we intend to spread this module all throughout the country in the coming years.”
Rajasthan Football Association secretary Dileep Singh Shekhawat said, “We are glad to support Hindustan Zinc for one of the biggest youth tournaments in the country, which will provide a platform for boys and girls under 15 years of age from all parts of Rajasthan to showcase their talent. It is really great that Hindustan Zinc has decided to invest in grassroots football which will surely help Rajasthan prosper in the Indian Football map once again.”
Hindustan Zinc also unveiled the swanky and shining trophy of the Zinc Football Youth Tournament at a glittering ceremony in the presence of Rajasthan football legend Magan Singh Rajvi and Kailash Chandra Bishnoi, IPS, SP – Udaipur. The tournament is being executed by The Football Link, the strategy and implementation partners of Zinc Football.