Meghalaya teen heading to Old Trafford after impressing at United We Play trials

By Our Reporter SHILLONG, May 11: Freddy Jyrwa of Meghalaya rose to the occasion at the final round of United We Play’s third season trials held in Mumbai and confirmed his selection along with three other participants for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to visit Manchester later this year. Organised by tyre maker Apollo Tyres in association with Manchester United, over 6,600 young footballers from all over India took part in the programme this year. The final round of the United We Play trials was held in the presence of Manchester United legend Denis Irwin, who was suitably impressed by Freddy’s footballing talent In the finale held at Mumbai, Four young footballers – Freddy along with Manipur’s Thangminlun Touthang, Aaryav Da Costa from Goa and Mumbai’s Niall Goghavala – were finally shortlisted for once in a lifetime opportunity to visit Old Trafford to participate in exciting activities like matchday experience, training session with Manchester United Soccer School coaches and legend interactions, scheduled for later this year. The 17-year old Freddy’s footballing dreams have been fuelled by his mother, who works as a labourer and has raised him on her own since Freddy’s father passed away a few years ago. The boy from Meghalaya is a Class 10 student and considers Brazilian superstar Neymar as his favourite player.