Bhubaneswar, May 6: Sixteen-year-old Kholeswar Laria dreams of making it big in The Beautiful Game. He has to travel almost 80km every day to train and hone his skills in his home district Sundargarh.
Now, he has travelled even further, to the state capital, to take part in a football competition that he hopes will provide the springboard he needs to make it to the top.
Organised by the Central Armed Police Forces in Bhubaneswar, the event aims to provide a platform for the likes of Laria to showcase their talents before thousands of football enthusiasts.
The central force is organise a nationwide football competition for players under 19 years of age to encourage students to take up football as a profession and instil a sense of competition among them. Nearly 1,200 matches will be played in the competition across the different zones and regions before the final match on July 25 in Delhi. The championship carries a cash prize of Rs 20 lakh.
Rajesh Kumar, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) DIG for the Odisha sector, said: "The tournament, named Oorja, aims to popularise the sport in the country before the Fifa Under-17 World Cup. The CRPF has been selected as nodal agency by the Union home ministry to organise the tournament."
India will host the Fifa Under-17 World Cup for the first time in October. This biennial tournament is one of the biggest age group tournaments in any sport, and has been graced by some of the biggest names in world football, including Fifa World Cup winner German international Toni Kroos, American superstar Landon Donovan, current Manchester City striker Kelechi Iheanacho and Spanish midfield maestro Cesc Fabregas, all of whom cut their teeth in this tournament.
Eight age group teams each of boys and girls are taking part in the tournament in Odisha.
"The tournament began on May 4 and will conclude on May 14. One team each of boys and girls will qualify at the end of the tournament. These two teams will represent Odisha, CRPF, in second phase of the tournament in Raipur in neighbouring Chhattisgarh. The final phase will be held in New Delhi."
Laria, a first year Plus Two Science student at Subdega Aaanchalika College in Sundargarh, comes from one of those districts in the state that has been affected by Maoists. He said: "I am happy to be a part of the team of my home district. One day, I want to join the police forces and represent India."
He also reserved special thanks for the CRPF for organising such a competition.
Laria, son of a marginal farmer in Darlipalli, narrated to this correspondent how he was putting his best in training day and day out.
"My college is closed for the summer vacation. This gives me more time train every day. Each morning, three friends and I take a motorcycle from Darlipali to Sundargarh town, which is about 40km away, to train."
On days that he has to attend college, his travel comes down to 60km. "While my home is nearly 40km from Sundargarh Town, my college is 30km from the stadium. When classes are on, I travel from the hostel."
Laria is a diehard fan of Real Madrid hero and Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo and doesn't mind putting in the same hard work that made him one of the greatest footballers of all time.
He is not the only one who dreams big. Around 300 footballers have gathered at the KITS Stadium here to take part in the competition. The stadium is hosting four matches on an average every day. While one match is played in the morning, another is played late in the afternoon. The two other matches are played under the lights. The matches are so scheduled because of the intense heat during the day.
Anjali Barua, who has already represented Odisha at the Under-17 level, couldn't hide her happiness at being able to spend quality time playing, bonding and learning with nearly 300 girls and boys of her age on campus.
"I want to thank the organisers for providing us with such a wonderful atmosphere here and more importantly, the opportunity," she said.
The daughter of a marginal farmer in Rourkela, Anjali has also represented the India Under-17 team that played in China recently.
She said: "It's my dream to join the police forces and serve the country. Football will give me that opportunity, enable me to get a job in the force and allow me to be a regular player for India."
While Bhubaneswar is witnessing the efforts of youngsters with big dreams trying to make a name for themselves, Cuttack will see high profile players as the big guns of Indian football, East Bengal, Mohun Bagan and Churchil Brothers, arrive for the Federation Cup from May 7 to May 21.
Rashmi Patra, another aspirant, said: "The twin cities are going to form a major part of football. The Federation Cup begins in Cuttack tomorrow, while we are here for this competition. We are happy to be a part of the game. I want to make a name for myself."
