NAIROBI, Kenya,** August 21, 2012/ *– *The Airtel Africa Championships (
http://www.airtel.com) officially kicked off today in Nairobi, Kenya. The
tournament which brings together Africa’s best talent in the boys and girls
under 17 categories will take place from the 21st to the 25th of August.
** The championship is the culmination of regional and national tournaments
in 15 countries in the African continent. The Championship is part of the
Airtel Rising Stars program, a soccer talent initiative that is focused on
identifying and nurturing soccer talent from the grassroots onto a national
stage. Touted as the biggest tournament in the continent the championships
attracted approximately 18,000 youth teams and 324,000 youth players in the
15 countries. In addition to galvanising the biggest turnout during the
qualification stage, the program has also broken new ground by introducing
girls to a pan African tournament.
** **
The Airtel Africa Championship was officially opened by Kenya’s Prime
Minister, The Rt.Hon. Raila Odinga accompanied by the tourney sponsors –
Airtel Africa – led by Manoj Kohli the CEO (International) & Joint MD,
Bharti Airtel. ****
** **
The Soccer Championships will herald the unveiling of two specialised
Airtel Rising Soccer Clinics run by soccer coaches from the Manchester
United and Arsenal Soccer Schools. Present at the Championships launch were
officials from both clubs namely; Mr. Jonathan Rigby, Marketing Director,
Manchester United and Angus Kinnear, Marketing Director, Arsenal Football
Club. The two clinics will be attended by two of the club’s legends Peter
Schmeichel and Ray Parlour.****
In the opening fixtures, the hosts Kenyan whitewashed Malawi in the Girls
tournament opener 11-0 with Vivian Adhiambo scoring 5 goals in the rout. In
the Boy’s opener, Malawi beat Kenya 5-1 to lead Group B. The other teams in
the group are Madagascar and Ghana. ****
** **
*Distributed by the African Press Organization on behalf of Bharti Airtel
Limited.*
** **
* *
*Notes to the editor*
** **
• The Countries that have rolled out the Airtel Rising Stars
include Burkina Faso, Chad, Republic of Congo (Congo Brazzaville),
Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi,
Madagascar, Nigeria, Niger, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia****
• Airtel has two territorial partnership agreements with Arsenal
and Manchester United Football Clubs. The two agreements bestow several
rights to Airtel as the telecommunication partner in the selected markets.
Key amongst the rights is the technical expertise provided by the two clubs
at the Airtel Rising Stars soccer clinics. The clinics are run by
respective club’s soccer schools program. ****
** **
*Photo 1:* http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/index.php?level=picture&id=266 ****
** **
*Photo 2:* http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/index.php?level=picture&id=267 ****
** **
*Download the Video Footage:* http://yousend.it/POG7sB ****
** **
** **
*About Bharti Airtel*
Bharti Airtel Limited (http://www.airtel.com) is a leading integrated
telecommunications company with operations in 20 countries across Asia and
Africa. Headquartered in New Delhi, India, the company ranks amongst the
top 5 mobile service providers globally in terms of subscribers. In India,
the company’s product offerings include 2G, 3G and 4G services, fixed line,
high speed broadband through DSL, IPTV, DTH, enterprise services including
national & international long distance services to carriers. In the rest of
the geographies, it offers 2G, 3G mobile services. Bharti Airtel had over
257 million customers across its operations at the end of June 2012. To
know more please visit, http://www.airtel.com ****
** **
*For more information please contact:*
Michael Okwiri****
Vice President, Corporate Communications ****
Airtel Africa ****
Michael.Okwiri@africa.airtel.com ****
** **
*SOURCE *
****** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** ****
**** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** *
*** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **
** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** ***
* **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** ****
**** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** *
*** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **
** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** ***
* **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** ****
**** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** *
*** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **
** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** Bharti Airtel Limited******
** **
UNSUBSCRIBE