Eight  girls rescued from homeless conditions in Chennai have made India proud in the street children football world cup held in Mexico,  ahead of the FIFA World Cup. 

They came upto semi-finals and lost to Brazil only after winning against Wales and Palestine. One match against Germany ended in a draw.

Seventeen year old Pavithra a class twelve student now wants to become a football coach. She told tellmystory.in “I am so proud we came upto semi-finals. I’d definitely want to become a Football Coach”.

It was a challenge of a different kind for Poongothai, the goal keeper but she delivered with confidence. She said “I was the only one short among goal keepers. Other teams had tall and hefty goal keepers. But our team motivated me that I’d be able to protect the team”.

Getting visa for these children was  difficult.Two of them couldn’t make it to this lifetime opportunity. For Vaideeswari a defender it was an emotional issue. She says “My friend couldn’t make it to Mexico. It was tough. But the consolation is we managed to reach semis”. On her career plan, she added “I too want to be a Coach so I could help street children like me get into sports”. 

The meet in Mexico was also an occasion  for meaningful global cultural exchange with disadvantaged  children from around the world, even as Brazil lifted the world cup. 

Karunalaya, a non profit run shelter in Chennai  where many of these girls grow up has been making this possible over the last twelve years. Dr Paul Sunder Singh, the Founder says it’s  life changing. “This wholesome opportunity to practise children’s rights under UN Convention. It also brings in equality, right to play, right to identity and right to participation”, he said.

Certainly a  unique initiative, that provides global sporting opportunity for the marginalised, hoping to turn the confidence and exposure they gain into a springboard for success.