Mammootty flags off former footballers' pan-India 'safari' in search of talents in tribal hamlets

Superstar Mammootty flagged off a pan-India journey by a group of former India internationals to scout and groom talented players in tribal hamlets throughout the country.

Popular Kerala players C K Vineeth, Rino Anto, Mohammed Rafi, Anas Edathodika and N P Pradeep have planned to undertake a four-month journey covering about 50,000 kilometres. The players have mapped out at least 287 villages and cities along their journey.

The footballers said they aim to set up academies in tribal areas, wherever possible. The five-man squad plan to make the journey in an SUV and have named their journey 'Soccer Safari'.

Vineeth and Co. run a football project called 'The Thirteenth Foundation', which began in 2022 by training tribal children at Thirunelli in Wayanad. The players said the Thirunelli project got them thinking about scouting and training talented players in tribal hamlets elsewhere in the country.

A former player of Kerala Blasters, Vineeth is their leading Indian goalscorer in the Indian Super League. Rafi, Rino and Anas have also played for the Blasters.