Tata Football Academy (TFA) and the Tata Trusts on Wednesday announced their collaboration with La Liga giants -- Atletico de Madrid (ATM), to enhance and strengthen its existing programmes for promoting Indian football.

The main objective of the collaboration is to encourage football as a sport at the youth and grassroots level as well as support the Indian National Football Team.

As part of the collaboration, the TFA will be renamed as 'Tata Atletico Football Academia.'

Commenting on the collaboration, Miguel Ángel Gil, owner, Atletico de Madrid said: "For our club it is an honour to join Tata Group as a strategic partner in this ambitious Football Development project. Both of us share the vision to build a sustainable future for Indian football."

"We will work together in an educational programme based in Atletico de Madrid values and focused on giving opportunities for the kids. Tata like Atletico has more than 100 years history in building tomorrow and for us it's the perfect partner with a long term vision like us," he added.

The collaboration with Tata Trusts will also witness a residential programme in Madrid, Spain, for budding, talented Indian players in the age group of 12-14 years.

This will be a long-term training programme, where these players will be coached in the Academia along with the other local Spanish cadets.

--IANS

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