Kolkata: The talented footballers of Durbar Sports Academy are waiting for their “Udaan” to take off. Come the 21st of July, when a bunch of 16 promising footballers will see their dream turn into reality as they board their flight to Denmark to take part in the Dana Cup. The budding footballers, all sons of sex workers of Sonagachi have been invited to take part in the invitational Dana Cup which starts from July 25-30. It will be the first time that a team comprising of the sons of sex workers will be seen in action competing with the teams from all across the globe.
But lack of sponsors almost saw their dreams get dashed when xtratime.in decided to come forward to support them so that they can see their dreams see day light. As a pioneer sports website xtratime.in and leading cable networks SITI Broadband have joined hands in organizing a charitable fundraising concert to send them to Denmark to take part in the tournament.
The concert named ‘Udaan’: Flight of Hope will see the top singers of the country voicing their popular numbers to support them on 16th July at Nazrul Mancha. The artists have all come forward to support the noble initiative by xtratime.in and SITI Broadband. According to Director of XtraTime, Anilava Chatterjee, “We feel as a citizen of this country it is our duty to stand beside these deprived children who are stranded and cannot go to Denmark to play the tournament due to financial constraints.”
AIFF and IFA has welcomed this noble cause and wished the 16 participants ‘all the best’. AIFF secretary, Kushal Das said, “My best wishes are there with them. I hope they perform well in the Dana Cup and their journey must not end through Dana Cup. They should keep on moving forward.”
AIFF Vice President, and I.F.A President, Subrata Dutta said, “I wish that their hard work results in success in Dana Cup. They must not get disappear after the tournament. Their aim and dream should be excelled in the near future.”
I.F.A secretary Utpal Ganguly said, “This is a great initiative by the organisers Greymind communications and SITI Broadband and specially Anilava Chatterjee who had made the effort to fulfill the dream of the 16 children from Durbar. They must respect their own talent. They should not only play well but play in such a manner that they get a chance to play abroad.”
Fashion designer Abhishek Dutta will be designing the team jersey while the theme song will be composed by Dj Akash. The list of singers who are supporting this noble initiative did not accept to take any revenue from xtratime.in and SITI Broadband. They are as follows:
1) Ash King
2) Anupam Roy
3) Anindya Chatterjee
4) Anindya Bose
5) Arindom
6) Anik Dhar
7) Aaryan Banthia
8) Gabbu
9) Iman Chakraborty
10) Jojo
11) Lopamudra
12) Monomoy
13) Madhumati
14) Pooja Chaturvedi
15) Rupam Islam
16) Rupankar
17) Sidhu
18) Satadal
19) Sayani Palit
20) Ujjayani
21) Usha Uthup