[July 18, 2011] Football to Support Education in Promo Tweet Jul 18, 2011 (The Monitor/All Africa Global Media via COMTEX) -- On July 8, mobile telephone company, Airtel launched Rising Stars, a new project aimed at nurturing young people 17 years and below, into great footballers. It is planned that the boys and girls will fill the gap left by the retirement of senior players. Mr Charles Bakkabulindi, the state minister for sports said this project would be crucial in promoting physical education both in schools and in upcountry communities. "For you to have a healthy mind and a healthy body, you must involve yourself in physical education. Physical Education is now on school syllabuses countrywide. This Airtel project will help the ministry achieve its targets and at the same time promote football throughout the country." According to Mr V.G Somasekhar, the managing director Airtel, the Rising Stars project targets both school-going children and those who are not. For school goers, if one gets enrolled in the project, one continues with their education as they equally participate in Rising Stars training and competitions. For those that will be enrolled in Rising Stars yet they are not in school, the Managing Director noted that as of now there are no specific plans because Rising Stars is only being launched. "If need for supporting our discovered talents to attain formal education comes, all those that excel in Rising Stars project yet they are out of school will be given another chance to join school courtesy of Airtel," Mr Somasekhar said. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]