The VIIth Convocation Ceremony of Tata Football Academy (TFA) was organised today where 17 Cadets graduated out after four years of specialised training. The chief guest for the occasion was Mr. Bandhu Tirkey, Honourable Minister - Human Resource and Development, Ministry of Art, Cultural, Sports and Youth Affairs Department - Government of Jharkhand who gave away Certificates of Achievement to the passing out group. Also present on the occasion was Mr. Partha Sengupta, Vice President (Corporate Services), Tata Steel, Mr. Sanjay Choudhry, Chief - Corporate Communications, Tata Steel, Mr. Satish Pillai, Chief - Corporate Sustainability Services, Tata Steel and Mr. Sanjeev Singh, Chief (Sports and Tata Football Academy), Tata Steel.

At Tata Steel, Sports is a way of life and it is a moment of great pride that out of the seventeen cadets graduating this year, thirteen have had the distinction of representing India in categories of various age groups. The objective of Tata Football Academy is to provide the national football team with a pool of young footballers trained to match international standards. The strategy adopted by TFA to contribute effectively to the national team 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, so that they can match international standards.

Tata Football Academy, through its specialised training and coaching has given 96 football players to the Indian football team. It is an achievement that even this year, twelve out of eighteen players in Under 19 Indian Football team are TFA cadets. This speaks volume of TFA contribution to the sports fraternity. Last year they played 33 matches (including exhibition markets) and won 24, lost 6 and drew 3. Some of the major tournaments won by these footballers are as follows -

1. 22nd Steel Express Football Tournament at Chakradharpur
2. Biju Patnaik Memorial Football Tournament at Rourkela
3. Chief Minister's Trophy at Itki, Ranchi
4. Ghoshto Pal Football Tournament at Medinepur
5. JRD Tata Youth Under - 19 Invitational Football Tournament at Jamshedpur
6. The group also won the SLI Security Trophy in the United Kingdom during their last International exposure in 2006.

TFA has seen 100% placement for all these talented and committed cadets who are graduating out in the 7th Convocation of TFA during campus recruitment. Players have been accepted with a remuneration ranging between Rs. 12 lakhs to Rs. 20 lakhs, in the following teams -

• Mohun Bagan - 8 cadets
• East Bengal - 5 cadets
• Churchill Brothers - 2 cadets
• Salgaoncar Club - 2 cadets

Some outstanding achievements of the cadets have been -

1. Henry Gangte - Most Promising Player of Durand Cup 2007
2. Rakesh Masih - Represented Senior Indian team for Pre-Olympic Qualifiers
3. Branco Cardozo - Represented Senior Indian team for Pre-Olympic Qualifiers

As a part of the curriculum, TFA Cadets periodically visit foreign football institutions, where they get an opportunity to interact with international coaches and footballers to refine their skill and play competitive tournament and match international standards.

Other International Achievements of Tata Football Academy over the years include -

1. Harlem Cup U - 19 (Holland - 2004) - Winner
2. Harlem Cup U - 16 (Holland - 1993) - Winner
3. Euro Cup U - 16 (Germany - 1992) - Winner
4. London Youth Cup U - 16 (1990) - Winner

Sports has always been a priority within the corporate philosophy of Tata Steel and taking this forward, the company set up the Tata Steel Sports Foundation, to inculcate among the young men and women of India, the sporting spirit, the zeal to excel and win and above all the discipline and dedication that brings out the winner in the individual. Tata Football Academy was conceived in 1983 and inaugurated in 1987.