Beautiful game

Frustrated with social exclusion and unsure about their future,some of the youths from these areas turn to crime at an early age. Kolkata Goalz aims to stop that.

It’s a community programme jointly funded by Kolkata Police,the British Council,Premier League,Kolkata Municipal Corporation,All India Football Federation and Indian Football Association. The project aims to reduce crime rate through football.

The idea has its roots in the UK. In 2006,London Metropolitan Police and English Premier League joined hands to create safer,stronger and more respectful communities through the development of young people’s potential. Kickz was born to work with the young people in the most “deprived” areas in England. The project has now engaged 45,000 young people (12-18 years),each for an average of 70 hours,and has helped reduce juvenile crime rate by 60 per cent.

Kolkata Goalz takes a leaf out of Kickz’s book to develop communities.

Six clubs from the Calcutta Premier League will have a big part to play. It’s uncommon in Kolkata,or in India for that matter,for a football club to adopt an area. About five-six years back it was uncommon in England as well. The English Premier League clubs,busy making money,were slow to accept that they could help with the troubles in their neighbourhood. But gradually the attitude has changed and now they put real money in community programmes.

Time will tell how serious the Kolkata clubs are in their new endeavour but to start with,six clubs have adopted six areas. Mohun Bagan will train the youngsters in Amherst Street and Jorashanko areas at Hrisikesh Park,East Bengal have adopted Karaya and Ballygunge with Kashia Bagan Park as their training ground,Mohammedan Sporting will look after the boys at Ekbalpore and Watgunge who will train at Nawab Ali Park,George Telegraph will take charge of Tangra and Topsia where Shibtala Park will provide the youngsters the space to hone their skills,United Sports Club are in charge of Park Street and Taltala with Ripon Park as their venue and Police Athletic Club coaches will train the boys from Entally and Beniapukur at Park Circus Maidan. The areas have been identified by the Kolkata Police and they have also helped in the selection of the children along with the Kolkata Corporation. Already,300 youngsters have joined the project.

Before the launch of the programme on July 6,the local resource persons and community development officers were trained by Rubel Ahmed and Michael Nyarko who came from England. The former has been working in sports field for 22 years,while Nyarko is a leisure professional with over 20 years of experience in community-based sports initiatives at varying levels.

Ahmed has a team of trainers that specialises in substance misuse,mentoring,working with gangs and gun and knife crime. “I consider myself lucky to have the opportunity to develop and grow in this sector,” he said. “I am passionate about young people and sport and am committed to supporting organisations develop and grow in this field,” he added.

But does football really have the power to make a difference? “Yes,this game has the power to build a brighter future for young people around the world. In fact,only football can do this. In England,lots of people are now leading an honourable life,thanks to the Kickz programme. So,football can engage youngsters,who may otherwise be difficult to reach,and offer them a better tomorrow,” Nyarko asserted.

The British Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Jeremy Browne recently launched the project at Shibtala Park.

Indeed,through football the government,the clubs — all of us — can do a lot for young people if we try a little harder.