New Delhi: A tailor’s son from Sikkim, a carpenter’s son from Manipur and a youngster whose mother is a street vendor in Bangalore – the Indian team for the under-17 FIFA World Cup is a fascinating blend of underdogs from different parts of the country.
Many in the 21-member team, playing in the first ever FIFA event to be held in the country, October 6-28, have seen their parents struggle to make ends meet.
But they have managed to pursue their passion for the game and are on the verge of realising a dream – that of playing for the country at one of the biggest stages in international football.
Komal Thatal, a sprightly 17-year-old boy from Sikkim, did not have the means to buy a football and he had to play with a ball made of rags or plastic in his childhood.
“My parents are tailors and we have a small shop at my native place. When I was a child I used to play with round objects made of cloth or plastic,” Thatal told this agency from Goa.
His father, Arun Kumar, and mother Sumitra have been saving from their meagre income to buy the playing kits for Thatal, including a pair of boots and a football.
“My parents have been very supportive. They have saved money to buy football kits for me. I have friends who are better off and they have also helped me in getting things like footballs and boots,” added Thatal, who wears the No.10 jersey.
A similar struggle was endured by Amarjit Singh Kiyam, a Manipuri boy who is likely to captain the side in the U-17 World Cup.
Amarjit’s father – Chandramani Singh Kiyam – is a farmer and carpenter rolled into one at Thoubal, a small town in Manipur. His mother Ashangbi Devi sells fish everyday at the state capital in Imphal, which is about 25 km from their home.
“My father is a farmer and during the off-season, he works as a carpenter but he never asked me to join him. He encouraged me to play football and follow my heart’s desire,” Amarjit informed.
Then, there is Sanjeev Stalin, whose mother Parmeshwari sells clothes on the footpaths of Bangalore to run the family. He got enrolled at the Chandigarh Football Academy at a young age and remained there for seven years before shifting to the national camp at the AIFF Academy in Goa.
“Everyday my father goes out for some daily job. So my mother stands and sells clothes at the footpath with my maternal uncle and that is our family’s income. However, they never allowed that to come in the way of my football,” stated Stalin.
Most of the remaining members of the Indian team are from humble backgrounds. Midfielder Khumanthem Ningthoinganba’s mother also sells fish in Imphal, while Kolkata boy Jitendra Singh’s father is a watchman and mother a tailor.
Press Trust of India
