Sponsor for Mohun Bagan Football School and designer jersey unveiled

Mohun Bagan Football School has roped in Bajaj Allianz as their main sponsor. This was announced in a press conference held today at the Hotel Hindustan International, Kolkata.

A designer jersey of the Mohun Bagan Football School designed specially by reputed fashion designer, Ms. Agnimitra Paul was also unveiled in this Press Conference. Ms. Paul was present herself during this event. This is the 1st time in Indian football that a team will be wearing designer jersey.

Mohun Bagan Finance Secretary Debasish Dutta said that in future Mohun Bagan senior team jersey will also be designed by Ms. Agnimitra Paul.

Also present in the press conference were Mohun Bagan General Secretary Anjan Mitra, Footballer Rahim Nabi etc.

Bajaj Allianz also launched the selection process for its annual Junior Football Camp for the third consecutive year. This year, 5 teenagers will be selected from 120 cities in India from over 700 schools for the International Football Camp to be held in Munich, Germany in August 2012. On their return, the 5 youngsters would receive training scholarships under the Youth Development Program of the National Football Club of India - Mohun Bagan. In addition to this, promising players will be rewarded with cash prizes, worth a total of Rs. 7.20 lakhs across the selection process.

The Junior Football Camp is organized in association with Allianz, the official partner of FC Bayern Munich. The camp is held in Munich, Germany in August 2012 and gives teenagers from across the world between the ages of 14-16 years the opportunity to meet and train with the legendary FC Bayern Munich coaches on the club's official training ground. They would also get a chance to attend a match at Allianz Arena, the unique football stadium and meet football stars from FC Bayern Munich.

On this occasion, Anjan Mitra said, "We are happy to continue our association with Bajaj Allianz for the Junior Football Camp, which is a platform that is committed to develop talent in the sport. Also thanks to them for being sponsor of Mohun Bagan Football School. We are happy to facilitate further grooming of the student's football skills through our Youth Development Program."

He also said, "Football is no longer an entertainment. It is a business from the view point of the investor. Football nowdays is also a lucrative profession with many players earning crores of rupees within few years after playing football."

Rahim Nabi said, "This is an extremely good project but I would hope the selection process is carried out properly and the boys should get time to prove themselves. Hope the boys selected from this camp will play for Mohun Bagan and also for India in future."

Kalyan Chowbe who is spearheading the Youth Development Projects of Mohun Bagan thanked Bajaj Allianz for their support and said, "Football nowdays is a physical game with emphasis on endurance and strength. Most players are coming from lower middle class who are physically not very good because of poor nutritional value, this should be taken care of."

Kalyan Chowbe also asked media to cover more youth development programs. He said, "Maximum football lovers knows who has won the FIFA World Cup for the last 20 years or so, but if I ask someone to name the winner of the last FIFA Youth World Cup, I am sure most of the people will fumble with the answer."

Designer Agnimitra Paul said, "Thanks to Kalyan Chowbe for whose initiative I am here today. This is the first time I have designed a football jersey. Hope in future I get the opportunity to design the jersey for the senior football team of Mohun Bagan also."

Wilfred Synrem and Aakash Dave from Kolkata, Adarsh Tamang from Darjeeling and Avrhishto Fernandes from Goa were the talented 4 to be part of the Allianz Junior Football Camp held last year in Munich. Aakash, Wilfred and Adarsh are currently part of the Mohun Bagan Youth Development Program.

Wilfred said, "We saw the Bayern Munich vs Hamburg match live. Even we trained on the same training ground where Bayern Munich senior team undergo their practice session. It was the best week of my life."