Jamshedpur: The convocation ceremony of the 13th batch of cadets of the Tata Football Academy (TFA) was held at the Michael John Auditorium in Jamshedpur on Thursday.
A total of 19 cadets from seven states celebrated their graduation from the academy after a four-year residential training course designed to develop their potential to the fullest.
Tata Steel CEO and MD TV Narendran was present as the chief guest and Jharkhand Football Association president Prof Nazm Ansari as the guest of honour.
The graduating cadets have represented the country at various age-group tournaments, while five among them are in the Jharkhand state team. The batch in last four years has been winners in IFA Shield- 2016, Tata Utkalika Football Tournament, JSA League-2016 and runners-up in U18 I League Kolkata.
As many as 16 cadets from the team will now be playing for the Jamshedpur Football Club Reserve, while one player will join the main JFC team. Two others will play for other professional teams.
Narendran handed over the passing-out certificates and mementos to the cadets in the presence of other senior dignitaries from Tata Steel and TFA.
Addressing the gathering, he said, “In Tata Steel, sports has been a way of life. My congratulations to all the graduating cadets. To me, it is not about playing football, but playing it well. You are the ambassadors of Tata Football Academy (TFA).”
Tata Steel have also launched Jamshedpur Football Club and received great support from the community, he added.
Tata Football Academy Board of Management Chairman said, “We will nurture football talent and aim to create superb professionals for Indian football.”
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has recognised TFA’s contribution and honoured it with an award for its ‘Continuous Contribution to Indian Football’.
