The FIFA World Cup in Brazil kicked off football frenzy with matches being played in grounds, vacant plots and alleys. In fact, cricket was on the back foot for some time. And when the interest was almost on the verge of waning, there came the Indian Super League, a professional football tournament that is currently creating waves.
The renewed interest in the game came as a much-needed boost for many clubs and organisations that have been striving to give a fillip for the game. Santos Football Academy [named after Santos Football Club, where the great Pele started his career] at Poojappura, is one such club in the city. Managed by a group of football/sports enthusiasts, the club is doing their bit for the game by training talented young players.
On a balmy Sunday evening, 24 boys are having a ball, under the watchful eyes of trainer Indira Rajan, a former goalkeeper of the Kerala women’s football team. Syamkumar K., the president of the Academy, is also around to coach the boys.
“The youth wing of Kesava Dev Road Residents’ Association in Poojappura held a month-long football camp during the summer vacation this year. When it was wound up, both the trainers and the participants were game for more training sessions. So, we went ahead with it and on every Saturday and Sunday the boys sweat it out on the Poojappura ground for two hours each,” says Syamkumar, a senior assistant with Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) and a qualified physical education instructor.
Training begins with a warming up session. “It is followed by basic moves and shots,” says Indira, even as she is busy supervising their exercises.
Though the training is meant for boys in the age group of eight to 16, younger kids are also turning up. Like Mikhil Mahadev, a class one student who tagged along with his elder brother Nikhil Mahadev, a class seven student. “We tell them to balance studies and sports. In fact, we don’t ask them to skip their studies. That is why many of them fail to come regularly for the coaching,” says Syam.
Except for a monthly fee of Rs. 100, the Academy doesn’t charge anything from the boys. It is with the support of well-wishers that they purchased balls, boots and socks for the players. “We have a few boys from a nearby colony who wanted to know whether they could join in the training sessions after seeing the students practising on the ground. They are also playing here, though many of them are unable to find the money for the boots and socks. In fact, we have bought boots for a few players by pooling money from various sources,” says Syam.
Now the members are trying to collect money to supply jerseys for the participants and also provide them with food and refreshment after the training session. Also, they are ready to welcome more youngsters to play the game.
“We are encouraging youngsters to participate in the coaching sessions. Some in the group play extremely well and if they are given proper guidance, they can win laurels for us. We are meeting the parents of the players to work out a plan. Meanwhile, we are also trying to bring an expert to coach them,” says Sunilkumar. The game is on
Core team
The Academy has seven core members, which includes P.P. Nair, veteran sportsman, Syamkumar, Sivendran G., veteran marathon runner and a former KSEB employee, Sunilkumar, a footballer and wrestler and senior superintendent, KSEB, Sabarilal and Anand S., college students and football players, and Sunilkumar M.P., a footballer and photographer.
Players’ speak
All those who take part in the training stay in Poojappura, Mudavanmughal and surrounding areas. Most of them had taken part in the vacation camp that was eventually converted into the weekly sessions. The other youngsters joined when the word got around. Gowrav S. Nair, a class 10 student, is one of them. “I was always hooked to football on television and this initiative came as a blessing for me,” says Gowrav, a David Beckham fan. Arjun S. and younger brother Abhisheg S. came to know about the camp from a publicity notice and soon registered their names.
While Gowrav speaks high of the discipline of the trainers, Sharat S. Stanley, a Plus One student, says the training has improved his game. Abhijith Syam, another Plus One student, says the training has made him exchange his cricket bat for a football.
