Zinc Football is a key initiative of Vedanta Hindustan Zinc CSR's long-term commitment to the upliftment of local communities in Rajasthan. To conceptualise and implement the Football Project, Hindustan Zinc partnered with TheFootballLink in 2017 to devise and implement the country’s largest grassroots football initiative. The program engages local communities to build an ambition ladder for talented Football players who are slated to be future players of the India National team.
As part of the program, a World class technology based Football Development model has been set up to provide a holistic platform for talented Footballers, both boys and girls, and help establish a football culture in Rajasthan, and gradually, India. The program has been awarded with multiple accolades including the Best Grassroots Football Project of the Year by Football Delhi and the Best Corporate Contribution in Sports through CSR by FICCI, both in December, 2019.
Having executed numerous Scouting Initiatives across Rajasthan and neighbouring states, Zinc Football has scouted over 10000 children so far out of which the top 40 have been selected for the Residential Academy. These talents have been identified through Scouting Camps, both in Rajasthan and across India, and through Talent Hunt initiatives at major Regional, State and National Tournaments across the country.
Since 2017, 40 of the top young talents from a pool of over 10000 children have been identified and awarded with a full scholarship to the flagship Zinc Football Residential Academy. At the Academy, player progression is based on a 360° development model that encompasses Football & Fitness Training, Schooling, Nutrition, Discipline & Personality Training and Mental & Psycho-Social Training by UEFA, FA England, AFC & AIFF certified Coaches.
The F-Cube Performance Analysis Centre (or FPAC) was built in 2018 with a vision to establish a one-of-its-kind Technology Centre for Sports Performance to rival the leading sports facilities in the world. Inspired by the F-Cube, the Centre facilitates the training, evaluation, progress monitoring and injury treatment and rehabilitation through the use of latest in International Football Methodologies, Sports Science and Technological Interventions to nurture top performers.
Engaging with local communities on an ongoing basis is a key element of the Zinc Football project where we partnered with 64 Government schools across Rajasthan to setup Community Football Centres to create a feeder system to the Residential Academy and establish a football culture in the state. Zinc Football provides regular training and matches at these centres to over 2500 young Boys and Girls on a weekly basis by AIFF and AFC certified Coaches.
As part of Zinc Football’s mission to aid football development in India, the F-Cube Performance Analysis Centre is equipped with state-of-the-art football infrastructure including an F-Cube Machine, 3 Artificial Turf Grounds, 1 Natural Grass Ground, a Data Analysis Centre, a Rehabilitation & Conditioning room, 360° Scouting Zone, Conference Room and an Outdoor Gym. The initiative has also overseen the development of football grounds across all 64 Community Centres.
As an ongoing endeavour, Zinc Football has undertaken the responsibility to train local youth to develop a talent pool of skilled Football educators who can deploy their skills towards the betterment of the community. Since the commencement of the program, the team has hired and trained over 50 local Coaches and, over the course of the project, developed them into licensed football coaches through extensive internal training and AIFF courses.
Zinc Football Academy again created history as their young team convincingly won the Under-14 Subroto Cup Qualifiers held at Zawar Stadium, Udaipur. With the U-17 Team already winning the Qualifiers in May, this win has come as the accolade for the hardwork and determination the Academy has put in to bring about a revolution in Rajasthan as well as Indian Football.
Representing DAV HZL School, Zinc Football Academy created history with their first major trophy of the year as the team claimed the Under-17 Subroto Cup Qualifiers held at DPS Jhunjhunu. Courtesy of their invincible record in the tournament which was played among 13 best schools in the state, the team will now represent Rajasthan in the 2019-20 Subroto Cup Nationals.
14 year old Suman from Zawar was selected as a striker to represent Rajasthan at the National Women’s Championship in Cuttack in January 2018. Suman from the Newatalai centre was part of the team that finished as runners-up the Udaipur Girls DistrictChampionship in January 2018.
14 year old Monika Daroga from Agucha was selected for the Rajasthan State at the National Women’s Championship in Goa in August 2018. Monika from the Arniya Chouhan centre was part of the team that won the Bhilwara District Championship in July 2018.
Winners at in Under-14 and Quarter Finalists in Under-17 at the District Championship 5 boys selected for Under-14 and 4 boys selected for the Under-17 Udaipur team DAV team reached the Pre-Quarters in Under-14 at the SGFI National Tournament at Kokrajhar, Assam
Udaipur, Rajsamand, Chittorgarh & Bhilwara districts were represented by Zinc Football players. Rajsamand and Chittorgarh crashed out early. Udaipur defeated Bhilwara in the quarter-finals but lost to Kota in the finals