If you aspire and work hard towards your goal, the whole universe will take note of you.?
This is exactly what happened to a 9-year old Assam-based boy, Chandan Boro, who recently made it to a residential football scholarship programme at TSG Hoffenheim training club in Germany. The young boy has made it to the elite list of six other shortlisted players following a recent match organised by Tata Trusts in association with U Dream Football and the German Club. In their joint effort to scout for hidden talent in one region of India-from different districts of BTAD-in the North-east; the organising association has discovered a gem.?
goldbold
Yes, we know he has made it to the final cut of selected boys for the U-15 football training programme. But had it not been for this one football match, we would have never known his passion. Chandan belongs to a family with a modest means of living. He is the son of a garbage collector and a tea shop helper. His family¡¯s encouragement and his own hard work hace today set the pace for his promising career in sports. Many small town boys will now look up to Chandan as a source of commitment, hard work, dedication, focus, and effort to achieve their goals.?
Chandan, along with the rest of the selected footballers, has been granted a scholarship for training in Germany. The training programme also includes their entire expense for lodging and boarding for six years. Besides, the joint organising committee also believes in creating not only a talented footballer, but also an educated sportsman. Thus, the education expense will also be borne under the scholarship given to the boys.?
Pexels
The U-15 football selection camp was held at the SAG SAI ground in Kokrajar district. The camp was organised under the banner of Football Development program of Tata Trusts in Mumbai. U sports Mumbai and Germany partnered with Tata Trusts to uncover the talent of the 120 players who participated in the selection camp. The initiative was appropriately titled U Dream football.
The selection committee consisted of technical experts led by Fabian Ewertz of FC Bitburg, Germany, and included members from U Sports, and Tata Trusts. ?
The scholarship program details were earlier announced by the Director of Sports and Youth Affairs, Meghalaya in June. The match was held on June 18 at 3rd Ground, Polo.?
pixel
As quoted on the website of Tata Trusts, ¡°Tata Trusts have partnered with U Dream Football for offering international football training to young talent from North East India, paving the path for them to pursue the sport as a profession¡±.?
After having scouted for budding football talent in four districts of the Northeast, the organisers are now headed for other regions in the state. As quoted by J Basumatary, BTC, CHD for sports and youth welfare in a media report, ¡° The selection camps in Imphal is already over and they left for Shillong where a selection camp is bound scheduled.¡± ?
Pixel
Chandan Baro¡¯s achievement is a story in itself. He stands out as a young boy noted for his talent and ambitions. His focus and progress towards a set goal will inspire many young boys from small towns and villages to follow. Besides, his sports talent has given him a plethora of opportunities to shape his life. This young athlete is now entitled to an academic progression, with an opportunity to study at a German university or institution.
As if this was not enough, it is equally enticing to note that Chandan hails from a district of the Northeast region. This state not only has a huge football following base in our country, but also a huge number of football players in India.
U Dream football sets one such example of projecting football as a mainstream option for a career in sports. And in the general cricket driven frenzy, this is definitely a promising approach to discover homegrown talent, and then groom them. Chandan Bora is just one boy who carries this message on his sleeves - yes, we have sports in the Indian blood. ?