###“Zinc Football Has All the Ingredients for Success,” says Victor Amalraj

Udaipur: Former India captain and veteran midfielder Victor Amalraj recently visited the Zinc Football Academy (ZFA) at Zawar, an initiative of Hindustan Zinc. During his visit, he interacted with young footballers and coaches and expressed admiration for the academy’s infrastructure, facilities, and structured grassroots development model.

A respected name in Indian football and closely associated with the All India Football Federation’s technical ecosystem, Amalraj shared valuable insights from his illustrious playing career. Having represented iconic clubs such as Mohun Bagan Super Giant, East Bengal FC, and Mohammedan Sporting Club, along with captaining the Indian national team, he spoke to ZFA players about the evolving demands of modern football, structured development pathways, and the importance of strong grassroots systems.

Impressed by the academy’s ecosystem, Amalraj remarked,

“Amazing infrastructure, talented young footballers, and passionate coaches — Zinc Football truly has all the ingredients for success. The work being done here is outstanding. Fantastic effort by Hindustan Zinc in building such a strong foundation for the future of Indian football.”

During his time on the training turf, he offered technical guidance, tactical insights, and motivational advice to both boys and girls enrolled at the academy. He also held detailed discussions with the coaching staff on youth development strategies and long-term player progression models.

Amalraj toured the academy’s facilities and experienced its innovative F-Cube technology — a patented system by The Football Link that plays a crucial role in player monitoring, performance analytics, and holistic athlete development.

Established in 2018, Zinc Football Academy is an AIFF 3-star rated institution and has consistently produced players for India’s age-group national teams. Following Sahil Poonia, Mohammed Kaif, and Prem Hansdak representing the country, the recent selection of six ZFA players for the prestigious Santosh Trophy marked another proud milestone in the academy’s journey of contributing to Indian football’s growth.

In a landmark initiative, Hindustan Zinc has also launched India’s first residential football academy for girls, with an inaugural batch of 20 girls from rural backgrounds — a significant step toward inclusivity and empowerment in sports.

Hindustan Zinc’s association with sports spans nearly four decades, beginning with the establishment of its football stadium in Zawar in 1976, which continues to host annual national football tournaments. Expanding beyond football to athletics, kabaddi, and volleyball, the company has nurtured grassroots talent across disciplines. Its flagship sporting event, the Vedanta Zinc City Half Marathon, has placed Udaipur on the global running map, with the company’s sports initiatives positively impacting nearly 30,000 lives.