There is no stadium to play in the village of Vicharpur in Shahdol. Parents borrow to children by borrowing football kits.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had recently mentioned Vicharpur village in Shahdol district of Madhya Pradesh during a conversation with American Podcast Host Lex Fridman. He had said that the people of this village have been playing football for four generations. Among them towards football
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This was not the first time PM Modi has mentioned this village. Two years ago, he had mentioned the village of Vicharpur in the radio program Mann Ki Baat. What is the ground situation in the village where PM Modi has mentioned twice? To promote football in the village, what efforts have been made by the Madhya Pradesh government … To know this, Dainik Bhaskar’s team reached Vicharpur village.
Talking to football players here, it was found that there is no stadium for children to play. Parents borrow to children by borrowing football kits. In the name of promoting football on behalf of the administration, 12 footballs have been given in the last two years. District Collector is unaware of the ground situation. Read, the reality of Vicharpur village called ‘Mini Brazil’ of MP…
The playground is 6 acres of vacant village The village where PM Modi has praised twice, has met the football players of the village, there will be a mini stadium. Thinking this, Bhaskar’s team reached Vicharpur village. However, the truth turned out to be the opposite. Children play football on 6 acres of land lying vacant in the village.
This ground is also given to play two years ago. Earlier this was the land of the panchayat. There is still a panchayat building and water tank in the middle of the ground. The condition of the ground is very bad. There is neither a boundary wall nor the ground is flat.
I met coach Raees Ahmed here. He said that during practice, muscles of children’s feet often get stretched. Due to lack of boundary wall, all the cattle gather here at night. In the morning when children come for practice, first of all clean the dung from the ground.
He was also standing near him. He said that the coal mines company had installed 4 big lights in the ground in the year 2022. Those lights are also stolen now.
This is the ground in the village of Vicharpur, where children practice football.
Parents borrow children by borrowing football kits Coach Anil Singh says that despite so much lack, there is a football player in every house in the village. The reason for this is that senior players support children. Parents also have support. They borrow children and send football kits and send them to the academy.
Asked him which academy is going on here? So he showed the poster of Khelo India Center at Panchayat Bhawan and said- it is open two years ago. Here the village’s national football player Lakshmi has been appointed as a coach for 5 years. All the children play in this academy.
Anil further says- It is sad that the player who won the medal in the national game is now anonymous, such as Omprakash Cole won the medal in the Under 14 National. He was a very strong player. Rakesh Cole was such a good player that played 7-8 national games. The captain of the MP team and Rajni Singh, who plays 10 to 12 nationals, are also Sujata playing 13 National.
These have been such players who knew by the name of every officer of Madhya Pradesh. As long as he stayed in school, he played fiercely, as soon as he passed 12th class, he had no means of livelihood.
Now know what players and their families say
Rajni said- does not show her certificate to anyone Rajni has a house at a short distance away from the ground on which children play. She has come to her maternal home due to children’s school holidays. As soon as he reached Rajni’s house, the mother met peacefully. Hearing the name of football, she said angrily- my husband and 4 children have played football. Now children of children are also playing football. But what did it benefit from this?
Whenever Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks something about Vicharpur village, the officers and media people come running but no one is doing anything for the future of the children. Saying this, Shanti went inside the house. When Rajni came out, she had a national and state certificate file in her hand. He put 12 certificates on the platform one by one.
Rajni Singh showed certificates found in different tournaments.
Nothing in hand even after playing football so many years Rajni told- I started playing football from school time because of my father. Papa and his team practiced. I used to stand behind the goal post and bring football to them. I was the first girl from the village to play football. We have not only played, but also win medals. Defeated teams from Kolkata, Goa, Delhi, Assam.
She says- When the front team came to know about our team, they used to lose courage in advance. I was selected in the national team, but the parents did not have the status to help me further. Married when school was completed. I have 3 children.
It is sorry that not even 10 percent of the football played as he played. I am not able to read my children properly. After playing so many years, I did not feel anything. There is no one to ask.
Rajni’s sisters said- no one did the guide Rajni’s two twins Sita and Geeta have also been national players. Geeta says- I have been playing football since the age of 6. I have played National Games in 2008-09. Rajni Didi and Sujata Didi came forward to play girls in the village. We used to play very good football. Had I got a little support, he would have played for India. Now got married.
The twin sister Sita says- After being a national player, I did not think that sewing and embroidery would have to be done. Nothing could be achieved even after much hard work. Nothing ahead was thought for us. Playing with the state team, just a lot. Neither guides nor efforts were made to pursue further for further.
The players here have the ability to play the Indian team Shankar, who has been playing football since the age of 4, is currently the grass root trainer of Reliance Foundation. They provide football training to a government school children. Shankar says- There is a lot of talent in our village. He has all played National Games on his own. After the National, the government’s cooperation is needed to play further. We did not find that.
The players here have the ability to play in a league like ISL with the Indian team. Children play fiercely in school, but after passing the 12th, they get pressure to earn sudden money. Nobody’s economic condition is good here. Neither do they get proper diet nor kit.
Shankar says- When my senior used to land on the ground, the fronts were afraid, they are working today. When seniors get time, they train children. If a child here is also selected in the Indian football team or in ISL, then the passion for football will be awakened again.
Clothes and polythene football practiced Senior player Sitaram is also training school children on behalf of Reliance Foundation. Sitaram explains- When we started playing football, the situation was very bad. We used to play football with clothes and polythene. Playing football- it had been 6 years while playing, then started playing football with a proper kit.
They say- there were high expectations from football. My favorite player was David Backheim, but never found a proper diet. We are still not worth taking proper diet. When Modi ji mentioned our village, it came into the limelight worldwide, but the efforts to promote football did not happen.
There is no use, no hope now Dhanwantari, who played seven national games, says- I was the goalkeeper of my team. When our team used to participate in the tournament, the players of the opposing team used to say that whatever happens, there should be no match with the team of tribals.
Dhanvantari says- There was no facility on our time. There was no football. Was just one coach. Seniors had support. Now I am married. There are three children. No one in the house also matter how much football I have played.
The housework gets done, it is enough. Sometimes I used to think day and night to get a job or get some benefit. But nothing has been achieved and now there is no hope.
Lakshmi said- Children ask when to get Madam kit? Dhanvantari’s sister Laxmi is the only coach of Khelo India Center in the village. She has been a national player. During the conversation, Lakshmi says- I am happy with this, now I am training children. Asked Lakshmi what are the challenges as a coach, then the said- When the children ask, when do you get the madam kit? I could not answer.
It has been two years since the center started, but the kit has not been found yet. Khelo India Center currently has 60 to 70 children. All are from poor families. Of these, 25-30 have a proper kit. The ground is also not worth playing football. Even after this, there is no shortage in the passion of children. They try to improve these resources.
Collector said- National player cannot do wages Bhaskar’s team met Dr. Kedar Singh, District Collector of Shahdol. Told them about the ground reality. It also informed that in the name of help from the government, only 12 footballs have been given in the last 2 years.
Kedar Singh said shocked- this cannot happen. We have so many sports associations, sports officers. In the district, we keep sending sports kits. If there is a shortage in thoughts, I will not let this happen. Will try to improve it.
Told them that the senior national players of the village are working, then the collector again expressed surprise and said how can this happen?
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