Pune Wunderkind off to Germany to play at Bayern Munich FC ground

Pune: From training at the rural police ground in Amravati to flying to Munich to play at Bayern Munich FC ground, it has been a long journey for Parag Shrivas, a student of Krida Probodhini, Balewadi. Parag is the first boy from Maharashtra to be selected for a five-day football camp in Germany.

Parag was chosen for the short stint last season, along with four other players, after his selection in the Bajaj Allianz Football Camp. 
“It is a dream come true for me. But this is just the beginning. I still have a long way to go,”said Parag during the Bajaj Allianz press conference held on Wednesday. According to Parag, it is his father, a constable by profession, who motivated him to play the sport since he was seven years old.
“My father used to wake me up daily at five am for football practise,”said Parag.
Parag used to play the game, barefoot, at a small playground near the police quarters to make himself tough for three years. During that time, He used to save his pocket money to buy new shoes.
Parag got immense support from his parents and his school, Golden Kids, and was encouraged when he became a champion during the talent hunt organised by Krida Probodhini. 
“Parag is a very talented boy. I am sure he will make it big if he continues to play, even after growing up,”said Brahmanand Sankhwalkar, former India skipper and jury member of Bajaj Allianz Junior Football.
“At first, the thought of meeting other players from around the world in Munich made me feel that I can be lost among them. But this game made me feel that there is nothing that can keep any footballer apart,”Parag added.