Tura, July 27: India's soccer icon Bhaichung Bhutia has recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with William Initiative, a Tura-based organisation, to launch the first football academy in Garo hills on August 15 which will be named Bhaichung Bhutia Football Schools - a William Initiative.

As part of the launch, a 10-day football tournament titled Bhaichung Bhutia U-15 Champions Cup will be kicked off on August 5 at Chandmary playground here. This will coincide with the annual Freedom Fest from on August 3 with events such as Freedom Challenge Cup, Pink Brigade Inter-locality Women's Football Tournament besides Under-12 Boys Futsal competition.

"It is a great moment for us at William Initiative that Bhaichung Bhutia has agreed to train our partners and provide all necessary logistics to start the football academy to hone skills of our boys from Garo hills," said Gino A. Sangma, secretary of William Initiative and director of the academy, Tura, said today.

Asked if this academy is linked with Mission Football programme of the state government, Sangma said: "It is sheer coincidence that we are launching our academy at the same time. We are confident that our academy will also reap its benefits."

Sangma said Bhaichung is likely to attend the grand finale of the tournament.

"The initiative is aimed at nurturing local talent and create a platform to produce national-level players from the Northeast," BBFS chief operating officer Ankit Arora said.

Of the 23 schools run by BBFS, the academy in Tura will be the first in the Northeast which aims to train grassroots talents. The academy will cater to children in the age group of 5-15 years.