The fifth consecutive season of Airtel Rising Stars (ARS) national U-17 football tournament for boys and girls officially kicked off this Thursday in Kampala.
The official opening ceremony of the grassroots tournament took place in Kampala at Sendi grounds, Kitebi Primary school. This marked the commencement of Season 5 of the tournament which aims to develop grassroots football by discovering talented youngsters and providing them with an opportunity to evolve and acquire new football skills and develop into notable soccer talents.
The tournament also builds capacity for sports officials while offering quality entertainment, excitement and fun to millions of soccer loving fans across the nation, especially the youth.
Commenting about the new Airtel Rising Stars season, Airtel’s Managing Director, Tom Gutjahr said the ARS platform in the past four seasons had led to the discovery and nurturing of young stars, some of whom have commenced their professional careers in football.
Gutjahraddedthat since Ugandans are passionate about football, Airtel is committed to building and sustaining a rich pool of talents that would serve as ready materials for the country’s national teams.
‘We are indeed happy that since its introduction, Airtel Rising Stars has played a major role in the nurturing of remarkable talents. We are therefore, proud to say that the Airtel Rising Stars initiative is gradually establishing itself as a strong feeder program for the national teams,” he said.
The FUFA technical Director, Mr. Asuman Kiyinji commended Airtel Uganda on its commitment to the development of football in Uganda. “Our youth have the potential to be a great impetus for Africa’s development, provided that an appropriate investment in human capital is made. This ARS initiative will help spotlight Africa’s potential, and I’m proud to be associated with such development,” he said.
The soccer talent program will end in an exclusive football camp for select top talents who would emerge from the respective countries under the tutelage of professional coaching staff from Arsenal FC, who will provide coaching clinics for the scouted talents under the Airtel Rising Stars platform.