Soccer club coach, members sell crackers to help players

YAMUNANAGAR: Functionaries of a football club that imparts training to underprivileged children in Yamunanagar are selling crackers and other Diwali items to generate funds for providing coaching to budding soccer players. Coach and other members of Little Star Football Club are involved in the sale of crackers to earn money for buying at least 40 soccer balls for trainees.
Little Star coach Naresh Dhondiyal, who has been running the club for the past 20 years, said they were finding it difficult to provide soccer balls, shoes, and kits to budding players, besides offering them refreshment at the ground after training sessions.He said they hope to earn Rs25,000-30,000 by selling crackers and other items, which would be used for the training of young soccer players. "We have 50 children in the age group of 6-15 years training with us. Most of them are from very poor families and have little money to buy footballs and kits for themselves. We are trying to help them by earning some money through the sale of crackers this Diwali. I am also being helped by volunteers in my efforts," he said.
Shubham Passi, a former trainee of the club, is among those helping coach Dhondiyal in his endeavour to earn money by selling crackers. "I am happy to help my old club where I learnt the ropes. It is a noble cause to help earn money for young footballers who don't have means to fund their game," he said. Naresh, who is an Indian Railways employee, has been using his department's ground for imparting training to children. However, other expenses are borne by him or the players.
Another former player of Little Star, Manpreet Kaur, who has represented India, said: "Despite all odds, Naresh sir taught us a lot and prepared us for the tough competition. I know the club has limitations. For instance, managing quality shoes is not possible. But our coach never loses heart and tries to help fledgling soccer players despite odds," she said.