Pune, November 27, 2025: Federal Card Services (FCS), a global player in premium metal and sustainable payment solutions, has launched the MATE Foundation in India, a long-term social impact initiative aimed at promoting structured football training and community engagement among underserved children. The foundation has been established by FCS Partners Matías Gainza Eurnekian and Cristian Calandria, marking the organisation’s first formal step toward creating an inclusive football ecosystem in the country.
The initiative began in Pune with a football-led engagement at Zilla Parishad Primary School, where students from Classes 3 to 5 participated in basic drills, coaching sessions, and a friendly match. The programme, inaugurated by the founders along with school authorities, saw 71 participants, including 39 boys and 32 girls, supporting the foundation’s focus on gender-balanced participation.
The MATE Foundation plans to expand its reach through partnerships with government and rural schools, enabling children to access structured football training, physical development routines, and guidance for long-term growth in the sport. Each participant will be enrolled as a member of the foundation and receive equipment, coaching, and access to safe training environments as part of the programme.
Speaking about the initiative, Matías Gainza Eurnekian said, “Argentina lives and breathes football, and we have experienced firsthand how the sport can transform lives. With the MATE Foundation, we want to bring that same energy, passion, and belief to children in India who might never have imagined a path in sport. It’s our way of giving back to a community that has embraced us with such warmth and generosity. We are committed to building an academy model that grows every year and creates real, lasting change in the communities we serve.”
Cristian Calandria added, “Football belongs to everyone. Every child has the right to step onto the field with confidence, dignity, and equal chances to shine and to take those lessons of discipline, equality, and self-belief into all areas of their life. With the MATE Foundation in India, we want to ensure that boys and girls from underserved communities experience football not just as a sport, but as a pathway to opportunity, empowerment, and lifelong growth.”
The initiative represents the first phase of a broader plan to establish a full-fledged football academy in Pune with trained coaches, dedicated facilities, and long-term collaborations with schools. The foundation draws inspiration from Argentina’s strong football culture and aims to offer Indian children early exposure to high-quality training and the values associated with the sport.
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