Tata Trusts forms CoE for football in Aizawl

Tata Trusts has handpicked the first batch of 25 student athletes, aged 12-14 years, through meticulous scouting across Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland, Meghalaya and Assam

A file photo of passionate football fans of Aizawl FC. The CoE aims to develop and nurture sporting talent in Aizawl by providing them world-class coaching, infrastructure, education, residential facilities and a sustainable progression structure through disciplined training and competitive participation.

Tata Trusts has established a state-of-the-art Centre of Excellence (CoE) for football in Aizawl, Mizoram, to provide world class training and development opportunities to young footballers from the North East.

Tata Trusts has handpicked the first batch of 25 student athletes, aged 12-14 years, through meticulous scouting across Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland, Meghalaya and Assam, a media release said.

The CoE aims to develop and nurture sporting talent by providing them world-class coaching, infrastructure, education, residential facilities and a sustainable progression structure through disciplined training and competitive participation, the release said.

Tata Trusts has collaborated with the Government of Mizoram, the Mizoram Football Association, Aizawl Diocesan Education Society, Northeast Initiative Development Agency, and Mizoram Police for the on-ground implementation of the CoE, the release added.

The young players will be coached under the expert guidance of senior assistant coach Bitan Singh.

Singh had led the Minerva Punjab U-16 team to U-16 I-League glory in 2017.

Colm Joseph Toal, who was technical director for All India Football Federation (AIFF) during 2007-2014, will be joining the CoE as the Head Coach from May 2018.