Kicking their way to a better future
All over the world, football is a fun game.In Anantapur, it's also a means of social upliftment.
As the daughter of farm labourers from Uavakodna, an interior area in Anantapur district, Anitha didn’t really have big dreams. But that changed when football entered her life. Today, she’s a talented footballer who’s gearing up to play at the national level for the third time. This is not just Anitha’s story but the story of many underprivileged girls from Anantapur who are realising their ‘goals’ thanks to the initiatives taken by the NGO Rural Development Trust.
The push to promote social development through sports is so strong that the NGO has set up The Anantapur Rural Sports Village, an establishment that encourages rural youth to take up cricket, football, tennis, judo and others.
“Our aim is to bring football closer to girls and boys in the rural regions of Andhra Pradesh. Every child has the ‘right to play’ and we are committed to providing children with the opportunity to participate,” says Moncho Ferrer, Programme Director of the Rural Development Trust.
Like Anitha, class IX student M. Leelavathi, the daughter of a daily wage labourer from Kalyanadurgam, too has proved her mettle in football by putting up a stellar performance in the under-15 national tournament. She was spotted by RDT officials during regular selections at the mandal level.
Says Moncho, “We encourage football in 20 mandals of Anantapur district. Our 40 coaches are on a mission to improve talent among the rural girls.”
In order to empower more children and further strengthen the training given to them, RDT has partnered with Spanish sports association LaLiga Foundation to develop football in the most deprived communities of Anantapur by introducing nearly 2,000 boys and girls to the sport. Together, they aim to help instill discipline, self-belief and team spirit in the youngsters, qualities that will help them outside the football field as well.
To nurture their talents further, the football-loving girls of Anantapur were treated to a three-day camp held by LaLiga recently. Irene Guerrero, captain of the Real Betis women’s football team, helmed the fun sessions attended by over 500 footballers and 20 coaches from the region. Irene not only played with the girls but also enriched the sessions with her wisdom.
Irene says, “The initiative by LaLiga Foundation will fuel the passion of young players in Anantapur and help them become the stars of tomorrow. Meeting a professional reminds kids that we are just ordinary people and that with hard work and dedication, they too can forge a career in the game.”
Irene, along with officials from LaLiga, also distributed training equipment to footballers. Jose Antonio Cachaza, Country Manager, India, LaLiga says, “LaLiga is the best league in the world with some of the greatest players and teams, but we also take our responsibilities at grassroots level seriously. Our support for RDT’s women’s football programme is about helping shape the lives of thousands of girls through football. LaLiga is committed to the children of Anantapur.”