Tata Global Beverages Limited launches the fifth season of Soccer Stars as ‘Tata Tea Jaago Re Inter Milan Soccer Stars’

Announcing the fifth season, Sanjiv Sarin, Regional President - South Asia, Tata Global Beverages, said, “Since inception TATA Tea Soccer Stars has grown many folds and gone onto become the country's most comprehensive football development program at the grass root level. This year the TATA Tea Soccer Stars program is adding a new dimension and experience with the historic tie up with FC Internazionale Milano (Inter Milan), one of the world’s most successful football clubs. This tie up not only brings with it the club’s massive history and tradition but also gives the children a new and exciting opportunity to learn from one of the most successful football systems in the world.”

Today, this unique initiative is held across 15 cities in the country and will attract more than 15000 respondents from over 1000 schools. The overwhelming response in the past has encouraged Tata Tea to move to deeper pockets of the country. The key highlights of this season are:

• It is an all-India soccer tournament played across four zones and 15 cities for school students aged between 10 and 15 years.
• The winning team of each zone will qualify for the finals at Shillong
• 15 teams compete in the national final to decide the All India Champion Team
• 30 of the most talented children get selected for further coaching by FC Internazionale Milano (Inter Milan) and Indian coaches
• The final 16 will represent India at a youth friendly tournament in Milan.

Commenting on the initiative, Ernesto Paolillo, CEO, FC Internazionale Milano (Inter Milan) said, “It is an honour for us to partner with Tata Tea Jaago Re Soccer Stars to further the development of Indian football at youth level. Our aim is to train these high caliber and passionate footballers, and help them make a mark in this global sport. I am sure this initiative will engage a diverse youth and awaken the true soccer spirit of the country.”

The details of the schedule of the tournament, ongoing matches, registration forms, news updates and blogs on the football universe can be found at www.jaagoresoccerstars.com

Schedule of the Tata Tea Jaago Re Inter Milan Soccer Stars tournament is as follows:

About Tata Tea Jaago Re Soccer Stars

Tata Tea Jaago Re Soccer Stars is a one of its kind soccer tournament for children aged between 10 - 15 years. The ‘Tata Tea Jaago Re Soccer Stars “is Tata Tea’s attempt to connect with the youth of the country. The aim was to address young India and its enterprising youth willing to take charge of the country’s bright future through their actions. The idea was to suggest that tea is not only just a wake up drink but it also can be an effective tool or catalyst for individual and social awakening. The tournament offers the soccer stars, access to unparalleled training programs.

About Tata Tea and Tata Global Beverages

Tata Tea is a leading brand in the India and is owned by Tata Global Beverages, a company which has presence in over 40 countries. Tata Global Beverages is a global beverage business and the world’s second largest tea company. The group’s annual turnover is US$1.5bn and it employs around 3,000 people in over 40 countries worldwide. The company focuses on ‘good for you’ beverages and has a stable of innovative regional and global beverage brands, including: Tata Tea, Tetley, Himalayan natural mineral water, Good Earth and Eight O’clock coffee. For more information please visit www.tataglobalbeverages.com.

About FC Internazionale Milano (Inter Milan)

FC Internazionale Milano or simply Inter is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Italy. Inter have won the Italian Serie A title (Scudetto) eighteen times, the UEFA Champions League three times; two back-to-back in 1964 and 1965 and then another in 2010. The club has also won three UEFA Cups, two Intercontinental Cups, one FIFA Club World Cup, seven Italian Cups and five Italian Super Cups.