Poor kids get a taste of football

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 16

AFC Grassroots Day celebrations at the Minerva Punjab FC grounds here on Monday turned into a moment to remember for the underprivileged children living on the periphery of the city.

Around 35 boys and girls, below 15 years of age, from Malloya, Khudda Lahora and Naya Gaon participated in the event. 

The participants were provided AFC T-shirts and jerseys and the joy on their faces was quite evident as dribbled with the football.

For some of them, it was their first encounter with football. "We believe that each child deserves to experience and enjoy football irrespective of their economic background. By introducing these children to football today we have sown the seeds and we hope that these kids will continue to play the sport," said the Minerva CEO Ranjit Bajaj. 

Meanwhile the children were taught basics of the game under the supervision of club’s head coach Surinder Singh. 

The main motive was to introduce these kids to the sport, said Singh. 

"The children were very happy after taking footballs back home. This will not only encourage them to play, but also make them to invite their friends to adopt football in a big way. Chandigarh has been doing well in football for the past few years and all this is possible due to increasing interest of the youth," said Singh.   

Over 200 youngsters had participated in AFC Grassroots Day celebrations at the Minerva Acadmey Campus in Mohali.

The participants were divided into various groups and interactive five versus five and four versus four games were held under the supervision of academy coaches. 

A similar function was also organised by Youngsters Football Club at New Public School, Sector 18, where more than 514 players, in the age group of three years to 19 years, had participated.