A volley from Jharkhand to Spain

Three years ago, Neeta Kumari, from the economically backward Hutu village in Jharkhand’s Ranchi district, never thought she would one day be part of a football team, let alone travel to another country.

Her parents could not stomach the idea of their “marriageable” daughter running around in shorts.

But now, they are proud of her. Their 13-year-old “only child” will play at the Gasteiz Cup (under-14 category) in Spain this July.

Neeta is not the only girl who has had to overcome social and financial constraints. There are 17 others, all in their teens.

They will play as ‘Team Yuwa’ at the Spanish club level tournament.

The team is being trained by a local non-governmental organisation (NGO), Yuwa, and has been sponsored by Chennai-based wind turbine maker, Gamesa India.

It will play at least three matches in the league stages.

“It was easier for me to convince their parents to send them to Spain than bring them to play football,” says Franz Gastler, co-founder of Yuwa and one of the trainers.

Gastler, born in Minnesota, has been working in the tribal dominated villages of Jharkhand through Yuwa, his NGO, for the last four years.

He has been instrumental in putting together this team of girls.

A judo enthusiast and skiing coach, Gastler was earlier associated with the Confederation of Indian Industry.

Gamesa India, a part of Spain’s Gamesa Group, has been committed to developing soccer in the country.

“Our current association with Yuwa includes logistics support, equipment supply and jerseys,” says K.V. Sajay, Vice President, Sales and Marketing.

The company does not share figures but on an average two per cent of its profits are spent on Corporate Social Responsibility projects.

Gastler had never played football in his life. But one evening in 2008 that changed. A few of his students asked him to “teach football”.

“There was this group of girls, barely 10 years old, who wanted to learn how to play football. We organised two camps. One for the boys and another for the girls,” he says. Thus, began the journey of the skiing coach turned footballer.

Of the 18-member team, two girls - Soni Kumari (17) and Sivani Toko – are now national level footballers, while Neeta Kumari has been to a national training camp. For all three, this will be the first trip abroad.

Gastler has a similar initiative going in the slums of Dharavi in Mumbai. In fact, the invitation to play in Spain came about when a group of Spanish tourists saw the slum girls playing in Mumbai.

They informed Gastler about the Gasteiz Cup but said he would need to send “some better trained girls” for the tournament.

“These girls from Jharkhand are tough. Irrespective of the results, I appreciate their grit,” says Gastler. Win or lose, he feels, a beginning, has been made.

> abhishek.l@thehindu.co.in

COMMENT NOW