Coach borrows Rs 10L to fire Madhya Pradesh rural girls' team to national women's football league

BHOPAL: Football coach Param Ashawar has become used to bank reminders about his multiple loan obligations.

Like Kabir Khan of ‘Chak De! India' fame, who wagered his career on his women wards holding their own against the national men's hockey team, this 36-year-old NIS-certified coach took a Rs 10-lakh gamble on a team of underprivileged girls from rural Madhya Pradesh smashing the funding glass ceiling to record a historic first by making it to Tier 2 of the elite Indian Women's League (IWL).

The success of District Raisen Football Club (DRFC) was born out of Param's belief in the girls' talent and the sacrifices he was willing to make. His personal loans all went into covering the cost of his wards' training kits, travel and camp expenses.

The girls repaid their coach by putting up a creditable show in the IWL qualification rounds last month, toppling the seasoned and more accomplished Odisha FC along the way.

DRFC finished their maiden IWL qualification campaign joint third in the pool, earning four points with a win and a draw.

"These girls had fire in their bellies but no resources," Param told TOI on returning from the tournament. "I couldn't watch their talents go waste. The loans were a small price to pay for securing their future in the sport."

Raisen, placed in a tough pool, pulled off more than one upset, including the gritty 1-0 victory over Odisha FC. Forward Soni Munda, who scored the decisive goal in that victory, credits her coach with creating what she sees as a breakthrough for the team.

"Coach Param is our hero. We will never forget his dedication. We will return next year and try to lift the trophy for him," another DRFC player said.

Param remains unfazed by his debt burden, saying he will happily borrow more if it helps take the team forward.

"I don't know how I will repay the loans," he said. "But I am not losing sleep over it. The victories of my team more than make up for my worries. I will keep pushing for the betterment of women's football in Madhya Pradesh until every girl who plays here dares to dreams big."

The Madhya Pradesh Football Association hailed DRFC's feat as a milestone for grassroots sport, especially for women. "Raisen's story inspires," said AIFF secretary Amit Ranjan Dev. "It shows passion trumps money."

For MP, long overshadowed by football powerhouses like Bengal and Manipur, the bar has been set higher. Param won't stop until his girls bring home IWL glory.