Pune FC and Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance Company Limited have entered into a one-of-its-kind partnership for the 2014-15 season.

The strategically designed partnership revolves around extending expertise and adding value to budding talent shortlisted during the selections trials of the Bajaj Allianz Junior Football Camp.

Pune FC will be totally committed in providing all technical assistance needed to add value to the event in the West Zone this year.

Chirag Tanna, Head Operations, Pune FC, said: “We are happy to be associated with Bajaj Allianz Junior Football Camp trials, a platform which is committed to develop talent in the sport.”

To begin with, the Pune FC Training Pitches in Mamurdi will play host to the annual Bajaj Allianz Junior Football Camp 2014. The three-day trial includes an Open Trial, City Finals and the Zonal Finals (involving a team each from Goa, Mumbai and Pune).

All trials will be judged by the Pune FC selector panel that includes the Peninsula Pune Football Club Academy Director Ranjan Chowdhury along with coaches from the youth set up.

The partnership extends further with two best youngsters among the trialists – one from the West Zone and another from the South Zone – being offered a two-month long residential scholarship at the Peninsula Pune FC Academy.

Adding further, Tanna added; “This year, two deserving kids will be given a chance to further and groom their football skills at the Peninsula Pune FC Academy. We look forward to a long and fruitful partnership with Bajaj Allianz.”

Last year, Krida Probodhini cadet Parag Shrivas, became the first boy from Pune to be shortlisted from the West Zone trials for a coaching stint in Germany. Parag, today, is part of the PPFCA Academy and plays in the Under-17 squad.

Rituraj Bhattacharya, Head Market Management, Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance Company Ltd., said; “Since 2010, Bajaj Allianz Junior Football Camp has been promoting football talents between the ages of 14-16 years in India. The annual event has reached out to nearly 1.2 lakh teenagers in the past four years from across the country and has tapped nearly 40,000 budding footballers in its fifth year also. This platform will provide the best five football talents an opportunity to visit Munich, Germany to get trained by the coaches from FC Bayern Munich. Also, we helped the best talents to get further training at Indian football clubs as part of our tie-up with the clubs. We appreciate Peninsula Pune FC Academy’s support and commitment to train two of the JFC Season-5 winners.”