Dream Foundation (DF), the philanthropic arm of Dream Sports, one of India’s leading sports technology companies, has announced the expansion of its three-year football training and development programme in collaboration with former Indian footballer Bhaichung Bhutia.
The partnership, which is an extension of initiatives launched by the foundation in northeast India, will play a critical role in training 50 young talented football players and support the growth of the sport in the country.
The partnership was announced in the presence of the Chief Minister of Meghalaya, Conrad Sangma, and Bhaichung Bhutia. A friendly football match was played with the young athletes who have been selected for the programme this year. Advanced footballers from the programme in the U-17 category will undergo specialised training in New Delhi.
As part of the programme, Dream Foundation will also be working towards holistic development of the athletes and provide them with lodging, nutrition, education, coaching, training and equipment apart from opportunities to participate in national and international tournaments. The selected athletes will receive their academic education at the Army Rifles Public School, Shillong, and Vedas International School, New Delhi, while they complete their training programme.
Chief Minister of Meghalaya, Conrad Sangma, commented:
“I thank Dream Foundation and Bhaichung Bhutia for this initiative and for selecting Meghalaya for the first such programme in the region. It shows that Meghalaya has great potential. We are making policies to make the state a sporting powerhouse. To the youngsters here I say, Dream Big and don’t give up. I hope each one of you is able to represent our great nation someday.“
Bhaichung Bhutia said:
“Over the years, Dream Foundation has played a significant role in our mission to provide life-changing opportunities for budding footballers. Our athletes have greatly grown and succeeded under the programme and we hope to extend this support to many more young players and contribute to the vision of making India a sporting nation.“
Bhavit Sheth, Chief Operating Officer & Co-Founder, Dream Sports, added:
“As long-term partners with a shared vision to Make Sports Better, we are thrilled to bring more young athletes into the programme. We are seeing a significant increase in interest and potential for football in India. The Dream Foundation is committed to enable athletes to unlock their full potential by supporting their overall development.“
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