Chennai: Nethaji Football Club, a first division club in the CFA league, has inked a partnership deal with Slum Soccer, which has been working with poor youth across the country for more than a decade. Slum Soccer, which uses football as a tool to make changes in the society, is also Indian partner to the Homeless World Cup.
Rohit Ramesh, who recently bought Nethaji, has been a longstanding supporter of Slum Soccer and was part of the Indian contingent at the 2013 edition fo the Homeless World Cup in Poland.“The power of football to change lives is undeniable and Slum Soccer’s legacy is a testament to the quality of the work they have put in over the years. I think together we can take the Football for Development movement further in the country.”
Slum Soccer CEO Abhijeet Barse said, “Slum Soccer has always pursued the twin goals of development through football. This partnership with Nethaji will help take us closer to our ambitions.”
Akshay Vishnu Madhavan, who serves as Slum Soccer’s COO, will be appointed technical director of Nethaji and will be invited to join Rohit on the board. He said, “This is a tremendously exciting opportunity for me personally. As someone who is passionate not only about football but also its ability to make a difference, I’m determined to make this a successful partnership.”
