Tata Trusts today launched the establishment of a state-of-the-art Centre of Excellence (CoE) for Football in Aizawl, Mizoram, to provide world class training and development opportunities for young footballers from the NorthEast.
Mizoram chief moínister Lal Thanhawla launched the new football institution in Mualpui.
Tata Trusts has handpicked the first batch of 25 student athletes, aged 12-14 years through meticulous scouting across Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland, Meghalaya and Assam; and the Mizoram Football Association is the technical partner of Tata Trusts in the project.
Recognising the interest in the youth for Football in the region, the CoE aims to develop and nurture sporting talent by providing them with world-class coaching, infrastructure, education, residential facilities and a sustainable progression structure through disciplined training and competitive participation. In addition, the Centre will give equal importance to personality development, communication and IT skills.
The CoE is equipped with a modern training pitch for on-ground practice, and also houses top notch recovery equipment and a fully equipped physiotherapy room for the student athletes.
Tata Trusts has collaborated with the Government of Mizoram, the Mizoram Football Association, the Aizawl Diocesan Education Society, the Northeast Initiative Development Agency, and Mizoram Police for the on-ground implementation of the CoE.
Tata Trusts in collaboration with the Aizawl Diocesan Education Society (ADES), which operates 18 schools in Mizoram with an enrolment of 12,300 students, will provide quality schooling to the student athletes through the Holy Trinity School.
The batch comprising of children between from Grade 7 to 9 will be homeschooled for five hours daily from Monday to Friday. The CoE is also equipped with a reading room and library.
The student athletes will get equal opportunity to participate in extracurricular activities, competitions and cultural programmes conducted at the Holy Trinity School. The students will also participate in 20 hours of community service in the academic year.
Former youth coach of Indian national football team Colm Toal will be the head coach of the new Centre of Excellence.