Tata Kolhan Super League to build momentum ahead of Indian Super League

Chaibasa, October 23, 2017: Promoting sports as a way of life among the rural communities, Tata Steel is all set to conduct the final rounds of Tata Kolhan Super League 2017 at Chaibasa Stadium from October 25-29, 2017. This tournament has created momentum for Tata Group backed Jamshedpur Football Club (JFC) which is making its debut in the 4th season of Indian Super League (ISL). The ISL is a showcase event in the Indian football calendar and in its 3rd edition it achieved a viewership of over 216 million.

The tournament that kicked off in September has roped in 1800 teams with 30,000 players up till now from all around Kolhan. A total of 61 teams with 900 players will contest in the knock-out rounds for the top position in open and Under 15 categories, the finals of which will bet played on October 29, 2017. Tata Steel has been organising this tournament since 2011 to nurture budding footballers from the Kolhan region. Speaking on the initiative, Mr Biren Ramesh Bhuta, Chief, Corporate Social Responsibility, Tata Steel said: “In tribal areas, sporting events create a festive atmosphere. People from all around gather and celebrate. Tata Steel in yesteryears has been a source of happiness for many. It has not only mined a number of talented football players from this region but has also shaped their future.”

Over the years, trainees from various Tata feeder centres have made it to the legendary Tata Football Academy (TFA), Army Boys Sports Company, Bihar Regiment Centre-Danapur (an infantry of Indian Army and sporting academies). It is worth mentioning that this month, three trainees—Sahil Kandeyong, Raja Banra (both from West Singhbhum, Jharkhand) and Bikram Gagrai (Kalinganagar, Odisha) from Tata Steel-backed Under 10 football coaching centres have been selected for Army Danapur Football Academy. Presently, around 750 kids are learning the nuances of football at these centres operating in Jharkhand and Odisha.