For many talented tribals in the district, a uniform to wear and a stadium to play in brought in a drastic shift. In fact, a student was recently selected for the National Camp.
Malkangiri in Orissa has made it to the headlines several times, mainly for the Maoist activities in the area. The insurgency has ensured that nothing else from the area gets highlighted, including its incredibly talented football players. For students who have pursued the sport despite all odds, managing even a proper uniform has been a tall order.
But all that changed recently, thanks to Delhi-based NGO School Sports Promotion Foundation (SSPF), which has come prepared with coaches, senior players, and opportunities galore.
For many talented tribals in the district, a uniform to wear and a stadium to play in brought in a drastic shift. In fact, a student was recently selected for the National Camp. “The children here not only get to understand newer and better things regarding their game but also learn the professional way of playing. Children are the future of the generation and India has immense talent. They motivate me to help them and we look forward to training with more kids soon,” said Former Indian Cricketer Surender Khanna, who is associated with the NGO.
The organisation, which is the first in the country to be recognised by the Sports Authority of India (SAI) and duly endorsed by the Department of Sports and Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD), has around 2,100 schools from 25 states in India enrolled with them. The only mission of the organisation is to promote and propagate sports at the grass-root level. Fortunately, for children who didn’t even get to wear proper shoes and those from the top schools of the country, talent is the only leveller.
Amarjyoti, coordinator of four schools from Jharkhand, where a cricket tournament was held last year, said by enrolling with the SSPF, an increasing number of children were showing their willingness to participate. “The exposure is helping the children gain confidence, and more kids want to play now. Children here are very talented, and with such an opportunity coming their way, they wish to touch the sky,”he said.
The process to enroll with the SSPF is very simple and requires only a few clicks, so that more and more schools can be involved. Database of every player is maintained and their score points and performance in tournaments is also listed. Each player is given a ‘star’ by a team of selectors, which monitors the performance of individuals to make it a fair play. Based on this, the players are selected for the National Camp. The process remains the same for all sports.
The organisation has a National Council in each sport, which is chaired by eminent personalities such as Chetan Sharma (cricket), Bhaichung Bhutia (football), Hanuman Singh (basketball), Om Parkash (volleyball), Gagan Narang (shooting), and Gurbachan Singh Randhawa (athletics).
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "grass-roots level")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}