People’s game breaks class barrier, ‘slum’ soccer goes national

Started as an intra-city event with its own set of rules, the championship has now grown into national-level meet with nine teams — Vidarbha, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Daman & Diu, New Delhi, Haryana, Chandigarh and Andhra Pradesh — lined up this year.

The inaugural national tournament will be held from September 5 to 7 at the Hislop College ground. The sponsorship has come from last year’s chief guest, Bollywood actor Sharad Kapoor. ‘‘There are certain things in my life which demand top priority. This is one of them,’’ Kapoor, who comes from Kolkata, told The Indian Express. ‘‘I’ve promised the organisers to be available for the good cause any time.’’

To make the referees well-versed with the rules, a clinic had already been conducted before the start of the tournament. ‘‘It happened so quickly and without much effort,’’ recalls one of the organisers, Gurumurthy Pillay, who is also the general secretary of Vidarbha Hockey Association (VHA). ‘‘When I saw children from the nearby slums playing soccer at the rain-affected VHA ground, I thought they could be given a chance to compete among themselves.’’

Krida Vikas Manch official Prof Vijay Barse joined hands with Pillay to implement the idea.

Mukesh Prakash Ingle (21) and Netram Bihari Sahu (21) say they have been waiting eagerly for the tournament. ‘‘I hope it would happen twice in a year,’’ says Mukesh, elder son of a labourer. Netram’s mother works as maid, while for his father it’s always been hard struggle to find a job. Khwaja Mohammed Sarfuddin (22) has plans to watch the teams in action at the east zone tourney. ‘‘I know we may need to play one of them in the next rounds,’’ he says.

Prof Barse says tournament has contributed to a social cause. ‘‘The slumchildren’s new occupation has brought down their indulgence in anti-social activities,’’ he says. ‘‘Even some badmash boys who once threatened to encroach on our grounds now offer us respectful glances,’’ adds Pillay.

For Parikshit Adhau (11) and Vipul Mankar (12), it has given a goal in life. ‘‘Sometimes our well-to-do neighbours allow us to watch football on their television sets. I would like to play like the big players one day,’’ says Vipul as he chants the names of Ronaldo and Zidane.

‘‘I know my son is in good company. I hope he grows up as a good person,’’ syas Vimal’s mother, a widow who slogs for over 12 hours as a domestic help.