Tata’s Jaago Re Soccer Star’s 12 zonal tournament in Bengaluru

Tata Global Beverages Limited, the world’s second largest tea company will hold its zonal tournament of the 5th season of Tata Tea Jaago Re Inter Milan Soccer Stars 2012’ at the Bangalore Football Stadium, Brigade Road in Bengaluru on 10th & 11th of February 2012.

The under-15 soccer talent hunt in India is an initiative by Tata Tea in partnership with leading football club FC Internazionale Milano (Inter Milan). The 2-day tournament in Bengaluru is expected to see more than 660 children from over 66 schools. The winning team will go on to compete in the national championship in Shillong with 14 other teams from different locations across the country.

Mr. Jamshid Nassiri, the tournament Head Scout will keenly observe the entire tournament with an objective to identify promising kids between 10 to 15 years with exceptional talent in the game. 30 of the most talented kids from the 15 locations will be selected to be trained by Inter Milan and Indian coaches. 16 of these kids will be chosen to go to Milan and will represent India at an internal youth friendly tournament.

The Tata Tea Jaago Re Inter Milan Soccer Stars’ initiative will cover a total of 15 cities across the length and breadth of the country with participants from over 1000 schools. This initiative was started in 2007, with an aim to identify and nurture grass root level football talent in India and put them on a global platform.

Sanjiv Sarin, Regional President - South Asia, Tata Global Beverages, said, “Since inception Tata Tea Soccer Stars has grown many folds and has gone onto become the country's most comprehensive football development program at the grass root level. This year the Tata Tea Soccer Stars program 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.”

The first seven zonal matches, which took place in Kozhikode, Kolkata, Ludhiana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Indore and Bhubaneswar respectively witnessed a participation of over 3200 students from over 320 schools. The details of the schedule of the tournament, ongoing matches, registration forms, news updates and blogs on the football universe can be found atwww.jaagoresoccerstars.com.

About Tata Tea Jaago Re Soccer Stars
Tata Tea Jaago Re Soccer Stars is a one of its kind soccer tournament for children aged between 10 - 15 years. The ‘Tata Tea Jaago Re Soccer Stars “is Tata Tea’s attempt to connect with the youth of the country. The aim was to address young India and its enterprising youth willing to take charge of the country’s bright future through their actions. The idea was to suggest that tea is not only just a wake up drink but it also can be an effective tool or catalyst for individual and social awakening. The tournament offers the soccer stars, access to unparalleled training programs.

About Tata Tea and Tata Global Beverages
Tata Tea is a leading brand in India and is owned by Tata Global Beverages, a company which has presence in over 70 countries. Tata Global Beverages is a global beverage business and the world’s second largest tea company. The group’s annual turnover is US$1.5bn and it employs around 3,000 people worldwide. The company focuses on ‘good for you’ beverages and has a stable of innovative regional and global beverage brands, including: Tata Tea, Tetley, Himalayan natural mineral water, Good Earth and Eight O’clock coffee. For more information please visit our website www.tataglobalbeverages.com.

About FC Internazionale Milano (Inter Milan)
FC Internazionale Milano or simply Inter is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Italy. Inter have won the Italian Serie A title (Scudetto) 18 times, the UEFA Champions League three times; two back-to-back in 1964 and 1965 and then another in 2010. The club has also won three UEFA Cups, two Intercontinental Cups, one FIFA Club World Cup, seven Italian Cups and five Italian Super Cups.