Time to Kick-Off

Through their initiative 'Just for Kicks' Arhan Bezbora and his team are aiming to use football to build value and character among under-privileged children

The idea was born out of a simple thought. In August last year,four youngsters,who had been a part of the Teach For India programme since 2010,chose a unique idea to reach out and work on a deeper level with underprivileged children. Arhan Bezbora,Meenakshi Bhaskar,Ankur Bhatia and Vikas Plakkot launched Just For Kicks initiative to use the sport of football to help build values and character,besides spotting footballing talent that could be promoted up the ranks. After beginning with just four schools,three government and one private,the initiative has now found a firm footing with a total strength of 120 children from 14 municipal schools. Very recently,the group conducted a little-league championship with the children.

Speaking about it Bezbora,who is the spokesperson for the group,says,We wanted to use football to channelise the energy of the children to not only increase their fitness levels and generate interest but also help them increase their concentration in studies. In August last year,their ambitious project took off with 56 children. Though the children would run helter-skelter in the beginning,Bezbora says that now the children have settled to the routine. We have had children waking up at 5.30 in the morning and coming in to practice at 6.30 am. Others have started attending schools and even performing well at studies so that they can play after school hours, he says.

Building teamwork was an issue that all four of them had struggled with,while teaching at schools. The sport incidentally,was the glue,they all agree unanimously,which helped them achieve the goal. It even culminated into the Project KickStart,which is a structured hour long fitness programmes for the children to develop their strength and stamina better. In January,2012,football teams from each of these schools competed in a league organised by Just For Kicks. He says,The children from different schools,between grades two to six,play 6-a-side league matches against one another to showcase their skills. The top teams advance to a grand tournament at the end of the academic year.

Interestingly the equipment for the children is provided by the group itself. Right from footballs for every team and studs to the shin guards,stockings,and jerseys to each and every child we give everything, says Bezbora. The module works on funds and donations. He adds,We struck a partnership with a dealer in the community itself. We raised funds for the same through the ‘Sponsor a Child and Sponsor a Team’ initiative,through which donors from across the world donated funds.

In the future,Just for Kicks aims to expanding to cities like Mumbai,Delhi and Chennai too. He says,Our basic module works with the help of Teach for India and a lot of schools associated with them have shown interest in our project. As of now,we will be working with schools in Mumbai. In two weeks from now,we will be launching our second season during which the interested schools will sign up with us, he says.

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Ankur Bhatia