[Reader-list] Jalandhar boys wins the Street Child World Cup Football

[Pawan Durani]

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2010/20100326/main6.htm

Chandigarh, March 25
The IPL is in full swing. Crowds in the stadiums are teeming, TRPs are
phenomenal and cricket, like always, is making waves. Even in these
times of forced oblivion, football in India has taken a big, but
modest step forward. Thanks to Youth Football Club, Rurka Kalan
(Jalandhar), India won the inaugural Street Child World Cup held in
South Africa from March 15 to 21 by beating Tanzania in the final. The
YFC team was representing India and fought it out with Tanzania,
Philippines, Brazil, UK, Nicaragua, Ukraine and hosts South Africa.

The tournament, which was organised by Amos Trust, UK, was held with
the purpose of highlighting the issues faced by people from deprived
corners of the world. That India, a country with poor footballing
credentials, won means it was a double whammy, the cause and the sport
being winners. YFC got the chance of becoming a part of this
tournament due to their collaboration with Khalsa Football Academy,
UK.

YFC, which was set up by the young people of Rurka Kalan village, is
run by a self-sustaining model. It raises funds through winning prize
money tournaments and has been able to build sufficient infrastructure
with the help of NRIs. This model has produced the highest-paid
defender in Indian football, Anwar, and shows that even if you don’t
have the diet to burn endless calories on the field, a burning desire
to do well can fit just right in.