From forest fears to football fields: Abujhmarh’s quiet goal rush

Raipur: In the once-isolated forests of Bastar's Abujhmarh, a quiet but powerful transformation is taking shape--this time, not through politics or conflict, but through football. At the centre of this change is the Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Ashram in Narayanpur, an unlikely cradle of sporting talent that is steadily putting Chhattisgarh on India's football map. Its influence is clearly visible at the ongoing Khelo India Tribal Games, where a majority of players in both the men's and women's state teams have emerged from its ranks. The results speak volumes: the women's team has already entered the final, while the men have made the semifinals -- and in both line-ups, around 12 to 13 players are from the Ramakrishna Mission setup, said Chhattisgarh football association assistant general secretary and AIFF executive committee member Mohan Lal. Founded in 1986 with a mission to uplift tribal communities in the remote Abujhmarh region, the ashram has evolved into far more than an educational institution. Today, it houses over 2,700 children, blending academics with discipline and sports to shape well-rounded individuals. For many students arriving from deeply inaccessible villages, often with little exposure to formal education, the ashram becomes a gateway to opportunity. Each year, 50 to 60 students step onto national platforms, carrying with them stories of resilience and aspiration. Mohan Lal said sport has played a transformative role for tribal children growing up in areas scarred by years of Maoist violence, giving them structure, ambition and a wider world to aim for. "In many ways, it is one of the best residential schools in the country," he said. In a region long scarred by Maoist unrest, sport has emerged as a stabilising force--instilling purpose, confidence, and a vision beyond the confines of their surroundings. The impact is now reaching national arenas. The Ramakrishna Mission Football Academy has broken new ground as the first club from Chhattisgarh to compete in the AIFF Under-17 Youth Cup and later in I-League 2. What was once a remote outpost is now quietly producing players ready to compete at the highest levels. Like a goal scored against the odds, Abujhmarh's football story is rewriting the narrative of a region--proving that even in the most unlikely fields, dreams can find their footing.