As many as 88,000 boys, aged between 14-25 years of 4423 panchayats of Jharkhand will get the chance to groom their football playing skills free of cost. The inspiring two-month sports-cum-youth leadership development programme ‘Hip Hip Hurray’ will be launched on Sunday in the presence of Football Hero Bhaichung Bhutia and Former Deputy Chief Minister Sudesh Kumar Mahto in Ranchi.
Magic Bus India Foundation in coordination with Jharkhand Sports Welfare Foundation and Rhiti Charitable Foundation will be managing this training programme at every panchayat wherein international and national football players of this region apart from above mentioned dignitaries will mentor the boys on how to nurture their social behaivour in the perspective of the game.
“Jharkhand lacks football’s official club and due to this migration is a common phenomenon. It is important to encourage the local young football talents so that they stay in the State. That is why we have asked panchayats of all the 24 districts to identify such boys who have the potential to show their sporting spirit. This would be the first phase. A training camp comprising matches for three days will be held at every panchayat. We will then scout talents through these matches,” said Avik Swarnakar, Magic Bus State Head of Jharkhand, Bihar and Delhi.
He added, “With the help of this Training of Trainer’s (TOT) model, the selected boys would further train more boys and girls like them.”
According to Avik, Indian Cricket Skipper and son of the soil MS Dhoni has also shown keen interest in mentoring the boys.
“Since the India-Australia match is scheduled here on October 23, we hope he will attend the inaugural session as well as some of the training camps at panchayat level,” he said.
The next action on developing these boys will be discussed in detail at the ‘Youth Summit’ scheduled on January 12 next year by the Magic Bus in the State Capital. The second phase of this programme to begin after summit will involve about 1, 73,000 youths above 18 years of age, comprising both boys and girls.
Jharkhand Sports Welfare Foundation President Ajay Kumar Singh of Bokaro who is also a former Indian Team Footballer (team mate of Bhaichung) will basically assist the eminent mentors at each panchayat.
He informed that such programme will give a platform to the rural boys to recognize their sporting talent.