Shanti Aich Mullick Football Coaching Centre, Kolkata (14th July, 2024)

Transcript

We started playing football in 1975, and we had lot of difficulties. We have been able to overcome them. Many girls come to play here which is a wonderful thing. If I am to speak about my coaching centre, I should first speak of Dr. Amrita Lal Chakraborty. I had never imagined that one day I would have a coaching center named after me. I started this coaching centre with only a few kids, now there are almost five hundred of them. The girls and the boys get coached together. It is good to see many of the coaching camps are following our footsteps. Although some developments have taken place, yet there are several problems in the platforms of AIFF, IFA and other clubs. Infrastructure needs to improve a lot. We, women, have been champions for 18-20 years. We were second in India. We played the World Cup. When we say these to the kids now, it becomes hard for them to relate. But we need to make them aware of our achievements and the hardships we had to go through. Now many parents, brothers and sisters bringing young girls to our centre. This is the sign of a positive and progressive thinking. The girls and the boys are developing the power to fight together. This fight is not about rifles and bombs. Football is about developing endurance and mentality to fight all odds together. When a boy and a girl touch each other during a game, what is felt is love for football. We are a number coaches here, Dr. Amritalal Chakraborty, I myself, Anamika Sen, Ashim Dey, Haridas Dey and Sayan. We all have D license. They donot charge a fee for coaching the trainees here. We give them tiffin and pay for their travel, can’t give them anything more. We do not have the budget to provide them with anything more. We have almost 80-90 balls in the center. I have to arrange for everything . I do it because I love football. Mamata Banerjee, our Chief Minister has helped us. The government has given us Rs. 1 Lakh, as she has given to other clubs. That is not much, but we could buy 10 footballs with that which was helpful. We need at least 80 balls as almost 120 trainees practise everyday. I have to buy all of them. I used to work in the Indian Railways and have retired now. I try to provide them with whatever they need. Football is my life. Football has given me my life, it has helped me live longer. I am happy that people know me because of it. My best wishes to all of you. Thank you.