Varanasi : The RDB Group of Companies today unveiled its newest vertical “Avimukta Sports” and proudly announced the launch of “Inter Kashi”, the first National-Level Football Club from Uttar Pradesh, on the auspicious occasion of Devshayani Ekadashi.

One of the RDB Group’s verticals, YMS Finance Pvt. Ltd., headquartered in Kolkata, West Bengal, has bid to establish a Football Club that will participate in the Hero I-League, the second-highest tier of Indian football, starting from September 2023. While the results of the bid process are awaited, the Group in positive anticipation, is engaging with players, coaches and other stakeholders in order to be ready for the start of the I-League scheduled from September 2023.

The RDB Group has chosen Varanasi as its home base considering the incredible potential and raw talent prevalent in Uttar Pradesh, the most populous state in the Nation. As there are no National Level Football Clubs in Uttar Pradesh today, the local, homegrown talent of the State is forced to venture outwards in search of opportunities. Now, with a vision to nurture and refine this homegrown talent, the RDB Group has launched “Inter Kashi” with an aim to establish itself as a professional Football Club competing at the National Level.

To commemorate this auspicious occasion, a Foundation Ceremony was held at the Durbar Hall, Taj Ganges Hotel in Varanasi. The event was graced by the august presence of esteemed social leaders, titans of industry, celebrities, and sports enthusiasts. The ceremony commenced with a warm welcome extended to the distinguished guests, including respected dignitaries who honoured the occasion with their presence.

During the event, Vinod Dugar, Promoter of RDB Group and Founder of Inter Kashi, also the Chairman of Jain Administrative Training Foundation (JATF), and the Honorary Consul of the Republic of Malawi officially announced the grand launch of Inter Kashi in the presence of the historic City’s luminaries.

Emphasizing the significance of this momentous occasion, Vinod Dugar, said, “We take great pride in getting the opportunity to start the newest Football Club in India from the Nation’s legendary, historic, and eternal City. The foundation of our Football Club, Inter Kashi, in the civilizational City of Varanasi is testament to the tremendous potential and raw talent that Uttar Pradesh possesses as the most populous State in the Nation. Our aim is to harness and nurture this talent, and develop not just talented footballers, but also humble, respectful, and professional human beings who can contribute to society.”

Dugar further highlighted that Inter Kashi has been founded with a vision to become a platform for collaboration with all stakeholders of Indian Football so that it can result in holistic development of the immense talent present in the State.

“We invite each and every stakeholder in Indian Football, be it the Federation, the State Association, Local Clubs, Fans, and Football Enthusiasts to work together and collaborate to achieve the grand vision of taking Indian Football to its rightful stature in Asia and the World. We feel that tapping into the enormous talent pool of Uttar Pradesh, which is as yet going untapped, can be the difference maker, and the first step that we take in this venture,” he said.

Dugar also revealed that Inter Kashi is currently engaged in active discussions with European Football Clubs for technical collaborations and strategic partnerships. By leveraging the technical expertise and experience of European clubs, Inter Kashi is confident in establishing itself as one of the bright stars of Indian Football, providing an avenue to homegrown footballers in pursuing their careers abroad to further hone their talents.

“Though we are only at the start of this venture, we are sure that we will soon be making a significant impact on the Indian Football landscape. While the destination we want to reach is certainly far away, we can promise that it is going to be an incredible journey and we hope that all stakeholders in Indian Football join us to partake in this initiative, and undertake the journey together, as our goals, visions, and dreams are all common”, he added.

The RDB Group has founded Inter Kashi with a commitment to nurture talent, promote the sport, and elevate the footballing standards in Uttar Pradesh and beyond. If the Group succeeds in its Bid for the Hero I-League, Uttar Pradesh will finally get its first local team in the premier tiers of Indian Football, which will be a long-awaited dream come true for Football Fans in the State, who otherwise had no option but to watch the games of teams from other States on television.

The RDB Group therefore invites football enthusiasts, stakeholders, and the community at large to join Inter Kashi in this remarkable journey, as they strive to achieve greatness and write a new chapter in Indian Football history.