India’s longest running and largest community soccer tournament, the QPR South Mumbai Junior Soccer Challenger 2022 entered its 12th year this month. Held at the Western Railway grounds in Lower Parel, Mumbai, the event sees countless passionate participants turn up for a chance to follow their dreams.
Milind Deora, former Member of Parliament, speaks enthusiastically about his initiative. “Football is the fastest growing sport in India,” he says, adding: “The sport is very popular in Mumbai, with an overwhelming number of young people playing football many times more than cricket. Premier League and other foreign competitions, young people are influenced and have taken to the sport in large numbers.”
A football fan herself, Deora supports Asian teams during the ongoing World Cup in Qatar. “See the setbacks caused by Japan and Saudi Arabia beating fanatical teams,” he jokes.
The championship gives 50 talented young people the opportunity to participate in a coaching clinic in the near future, of which four children (two boys and two girls) will have the opportunity to train for a two-week program at the QPR Youth Academy in 2023. London. .
Sanjiv Saran Mehra, who organizes the event under Saran Sports, has been part of the initiative since its inception in 2009. “Initially it was very difficult to introduce the concept because it was a challenge to reach the schools (especially BMC schools). We had to convince them that we’re here for the long haul and not putting on a show for a year or two. Now it’s been 12 long years and the schools eagerly await this event every year, as do their coaches/sports teachers and parents,” reveals a delighted Mehra.
Deora adds that the idea behind introducing this concept was to provide a platform for the children to showcase their skills. “In addition, this also provides a platform and an opportunity for children from the BMC schools to step onto the field and feel the sport. Very rarely do the children of these BMC schools get such an opportunity. This is a great community football event where kids from different backgrounds all play together under one roof,” he explained, adding that this event will continue to grow in strength as more and more girls (currently 30%) take up sports.
Mehra reveals that parents are now very passionately involved in the game. “They keep a close eye on their children’s progress – all parents feel that their child could just play for India one day.”
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