Airtel Uganda once again ignites anticipation for young talented children across the nation with the initiative Airtel Rising Stars which gives both boys and girls under 17 years to show case their abilities in hope of securing a sports career.
Airtel Rising Stars initiative is a global talent search platform which aims to develop grassroots football by displaying their skills and providing them with the opportunity to evolve and acquire new football techniques that will turn them into distinguished soccer talents.
This year the ARS season 6 will kick off in Rubaga on the 9th September for the Kampala regional games with an aim of identifying stars like celebrated ARS now Uganda Cranes star Farouk Miya. The matches which will be held, in Kampala, Mubende, Arua, Soroti and Mbarara will be closely watched and followed by FUFA selected scouts whose role is to identify the next Ugandan superstars. Lira, known to be one of the biggest football towns will host the national finals in October.
According to Deepak Bhatia, the Airtel Chief Commercial Officer, “Airtel Uganda finds great pleasure in creating initiatives like these that give all youngsters in the country a chance to showcase their talent in the hope of being recognized and potentially recruited for to represent their country at an international level.”
“Over the years, the Airtel Rising Stars initiative has yielded many success stories and has enabled several upcoming soccer talents to join Africa Premier League clubs and their countries’ national teams.” He added.
The Minister of State for Sport, Hon. Charles Bakkabulindi commended Airtel; “We are lucky to have business entities like Airtel Uganda whose mission is rooted in growing passion points like football which over time has united Ugandans across all tribes and religions. Airtel has and continues to be a great contributor to the football stars of today and tomorrow at a grassroot level and now as the official sponsor of the national team Uganda Cranes.”
At the end of ARS season 5 last year, winning teams at the national finals for both boys and girls from Kitara and Buganda respectively each won 5,000,000 shillings among other individual team accolades. Season 6 will see winners rewarded with the same amount as well as special prizes for the most outstanding players throughout the tournament.