Scouting programme for U-16 footballers

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India captain Sunil Chhetri, and former Manchaster United player Dwight Yorke at an event in New Delhi on Tuesday

Telecom giant Bharti Airtel launched India’s largest Under-16 football talent hunt — the Airtel Rising Stars — in New Delhi on Tuesday.

The three-month long exercise, being held in association with the Manchester United Football School, will kick off in mid-July.
The programme will be spread across 16 cities and the best three players from each of the cities will attend a final six-day camp-cum-selection trial conducted by coaches from the Man U Football School.
At the trial, the 48 players will be divided into four teams of 12 each and will be tested on all parameters (including physical attributes, individual skills, match situations and their performances in actual matches). Later, 12 players will be chosen to attend a week-long camp at the Manchester United Academy Former Manchester United footballer Dwight Yorke was also present at the launch, along with India captain Sunil Chhetri.
Yorke, a former Trinidad and Tobago World Cupper and current assistant coach of Manchester United`s reserve side, said the programme would be a lifetime experience for the youngsters.
“It is a great opportunity for the kids to excel in football. They will get an opportunity to see Manchester United from the close quarters, gain experience, get in touch with the some of the top footballers across the world ... It is once in a lifetime opportunity,” said the Caribbean footballer.
Asked whether the seven-day training camp would be too short, Yorke said, “You have to start somewhere. You will never get it right at the first attempt. But it is not a small initiative. It is going to be a long association. There is always going to be a question mark, but we are here for five years.”