The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Watch by night, practise by day

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jun 19, 2006

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Watch by night, practise by day

Kannal Achuthan

Poverty no bar for slum children from emulating heroes

HERE WE GOAL: Children of the Kalyanapuram slum in Vyasarpadi at the recently held football training camp.

CHENNAI: The football craze raging in Chennai has caught up with children of a slum in Vyasarpadi in North Chennai.

Long before the World Cup began, these children have been ardent followers of the game, putting in several hours of practice every week.

Still, one cannot deny that their enthusiasm has touched a new high after watching soccer giants clash in the night, and, early next morning, try new techniques on the playground adjoining the Kalyanapuram slum.

The children say they like to watch every match, no matter which team plays, to learn how the champions mark out their zones to score goals.

"As all of them don't have TV sets, we put children in groups of ten to watch the matches in different homes," says N. Umapathy, one of their football coaches.

Camp successful

The children are coached by volunteers from a group called SCSTEDS (Slum Children Sports Talent and Education Development Society, Ph: 55678963/ 9841583718). The volunteers themselves were once dwellers in the slum. A football camp was organised for youngsters between 6 - 18 years during the summer holidays. About 150 youngsters participated and 56 have been selected to continue practice. One of the teenagers, Agastin, even went on a Ministry of Youth Affairs sponsored tour to Portugal as a member of India's under-17 team.

The volunteers of SCSTEDS made donations to provide milk, eggs, bread and bananas to children during the camp. "However, we require sponsorship to buy footballs. We need about 250 footballs," says Mr. Umapathy.

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