Bajaj Allianz has launched the selection process for Allianz Junior Football Camp in India for the second consecutive year. Allianz, the official partner of FC Bayern Munich is hosting its third international football camp in Munich, Germany in August 2011. The camp will provide 50 teenagers from across the world between the ages of 14-16 years a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to practice with the FC Bayern Munich coaches on the club’s official training ground, attend a match at Allianz Arena, the unique football stadium and meet football stars from FC Bayern Munich.
Through this activity, Bajaj Allianz aims at providing a platform for youngsters to fulfill their aspirations of becoming a football player by exposing them to professional training with the best players in the country and the world.
This year, Bajaj Allianz will be selecting 4 teenagers from over 41 cities including the football fanatic cities of Kolkata, Guwahati, Bhubaneswar, Gangtok, Aizawl, Goa and Pune amongst others.
The Football Camp will comprise of the following activities:
• Practice with FC Bayern coaches: At the training sessions, the coaches will guide the participants in practicing different skills such as target shooting, ball juggling, precise passing etc.
• Meet FC Bayern stars: After the training session, an opportunity to meet some FC Bayern stars like Franck Ribéry, Arjen Robben, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Miroslav Klose and Thomas Müller.
• Allianz Arena tour: A guided tour through the Allianz Arena, one of the most modern football stadiums in Germany
• FC Bayern match: Watch a match at the Allianz Arena
• 5-on-5 tournament: On the last camp day, the youngsters will show what they have learned in a 5-on-5 tournament with mixed teams made up of all camp participants
• Sightseeing tour: Besides football activities, participants will see some famous sights of Munich
Selection process
The search for the participants will begin at the school level where over 50,000 students will be targeted across 41 cities. The short-listed students selected from the schools will compete at city level and state level screenings to zero-down on the final 4 participants. The students will be tested on their football skills through matches or football-related activities by an eminent judge panel comprising of renowned Indian football players.
Judging Panel
The judges include renowned football players from across the country.
East
Bajaj Allianz has associated with Mohun Bagan Football Club to carry out the activity in East and North East India.
• Ashim Biswas (Indian International Striker)
• Kalyan Chaubey (former Indian international goalkeeper)
• Jose Ramirez Barreto (Brazilian forward, Mohun Bagan)
Goa
In partnership with Goa Football Federation
• Brahmanand Shankwalkar (former Indian captain, Arjuna Awardee, current technical director at Sesa Football Academy)
• Alex Alvares (Head Coach – Sporting Clube de Goa, ex Goa Santosh Trophy player)
Pune
• Derrick Pereira (Head Coach – Pune FC, former Indian international defender)
• Paresh Shivalkar (Midfielder, Pune FC)
• Sandesh Gadkari (Striker, Pune FC)
Rupert Nungram, Damey Syiam, Sushanto Malik, Quan Gomes, Abu Thahir and Idhanta Kakkar were the six talented youngsters to be part of the Allianz Junior Football Camp held last year in Munich.
Commenting on this initiative, Rituraj Bhattacharya, Head-Market Management & Product Development, Bajaj Allianz says “We saw an overwhelming response last year with over 25,000 students participating in the selection process. This year, we will be reaching out to more students with this platform that would give them the opportunity to live their craze for the sport of football and meet the best players and coaches in the world. We hope this would especially help students aspiring for a career in football to fulfill their dreams. ”
Anjan Kumar Mitra, Hon. General Secretary, Mohun Bagan Athletic Club says “We are happy to continue our association with Bajaj Allianz for the Junior Football Camp, which is a platform that is committed to develop talent in the sport. This year, deserving students from the selection process will be given a chance to further groom their football skills at the Mohun Bagan Football Academy.”
Mrs. J Bajpai, Principal, Cossipore English School says, “This is a great opportunity for students of our school to interact with the best football talent in the world, if selected. The international exposure will go a long way in their future in football if they choose so.”
Other countries participating in the Allianz Junior Football Camp 2011 are Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, China, Czech Republic, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, Ireland, Korea, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain and Thailand.
