The Unrecognized Local Heroes

Football is the most rapidly growing sport in our country. The middle-class and the upper class have taken to it in a huge way giving way to its popularity. A new generation of footballers who grew up watching EPL and La Liga matches have come up and are helping the others also discover this game. The Mumbai Football League organised by Mumbai District Football Association is a ladder-based competition involving a total of six divisions and 300+ teams. Out of this massive total, twelve teams make up the Women's Football League which is the traditional curtain raiser of the season. India being a democratic country filled with different kinds of people, culture, traditions and yet only has been cricket given importance over the other sports to such an extent whereby Hockey which is the national sport of the country has also been neglected. Football has not been given its due till now. India has come under the international spotlight now with Fifa president Sepp Blatter even calling India the 'sleeping giant' of

football. There are various clubs in Mumbai keeping the flag flying high. One of them is the Palm Acres Football Club, Mulund.This club has been established for about 7 to 8 years now, and they continue to extend this for new comers. This team is a colony based team and they sponsor themselves. They have made their own jerseys and tried to keep the spirit of football alive. They organize rink football matches in their area and give opportunity for other footballers. They are the best and unbeatable in their home ground.These boys are not given any motivation. No one is there to support them but yet they want to keep the club going. Some of the boys have exams and work etc, but they still make it a point to meet up every day for about 2 hours and practice. Some of them feel it helps them reduce their stress. And the others feel it’s a good break from the monotonous busy life. While the rest play to stay fit and at the end of the day it’s their passion for the game that drives them to play football.As the host of the Under-17 World Cup in 2017, India gets an automatic spot in the tournament and let’s hope these youngsters rise up to the challenge and make our nation proud.

-Tasneem Bankoda