Tata Football Academy Cadets set for exposure trip to Sheffield

Jamshedpur - The 11th batch of Tata Football Academy (TFA), comprising of 20 (U-18 years) are being sent on an exposure trip to Sheffield United Football Club (SUFC), UK for a period of three weeks. The trip will expose the current bunch of cadets to the state of the art facilities and coaching staff of SUFC and provide a first-hand experience of professional football at an international level.

The three week trip is part of their curriculum at TFA to train them and hone their skills at the international level. The cadets are accompanied by a team of support staff comprising of a manager, 3 coaches and a physiotherapist. The tie-up with SUFC, which is currently in its third year, has helped TFA in producing some of the brightest talents in Football in the country. As a part of the programme the SUFC coaches also visit TFA to guide their Indian counterparts along with the cadets.

Mr Sanjiv Paul, Vice-President (Corporate Services), Tata Steel, and Chairman, Board of Management, TFA, said “It gives me immense pleasure to be a part of the tour that will benefit the cadets at TFA immensely in terms of training for their future. TFA is committed to developing and nurturing the young football talent in India and such tours will further strengthen young talent for the country and for the sports as well.” He also added, “The recent success of India at the Nehru Cup clearly suggests that Tata Football Academy is treading the right path in creating a success story for football in India. 8 of the 20 players from the Indian team are ex-cadets of TFA.”

The team left Jamshedpur on September 1, 2012, and reached UK on September 2 and subsequently started training from the next day onwards. The TFA team is scheduled for ground and the facility tours of Sheffield United Football Club. As a part of the training programme the team is also scheduled to play four exhibitions cum competitive matches with Sheffield FC U19, Hallam FC U19, Handsworth FC U19 and Stavely FC U19.

Tata Steel supports a wide range of activities in Europe that enrich its local communities. In the United Kingdom, Tata Steel is the corporate partner of British Triathlon and has inspired more than 50,000 young people to try the multi-discipline sport through its Tata Kids of Steel series. The company has been involved with triathlon – swimming, cycling and running – since 2006 and has enabled people of all abilities to participate in Britain’s fastest-growing sport. The Tata Kids of Steel series not only encourages young people to try an exciting and dynamic sport in a fun and safe environment, it also promotes the importance of leading a healthy lifestyle.

About Tata Football Academy

Tata Football Academy was established in the year 1987. The objective of Tata Football Academy is to provide the mainstream of national football with a perennial pool of young footballers trained and oriented to international standards. The strategy is simple – “CATCH THEM YOUNG” and give them the best, in terms of training with modern techniques, tactics, physical and psychological conditioning and related inputs.

The Academy is imparting intensive training to young budding talented sportsperson with an objective of providing mainstream of National Football with a perennial pool of young footballers trained and oriented to international standards. The Academy is spread over 25000 sq ft area amidst green surroundings and accommodates 40 trainees. Over the last 25 years, the Tata Football Academy has trained 182 cadets, 125 of whom have represented the country at various levels.