A Ray of Hope for Sex Workers to Get Rid of the Social Stigma with Football
Kolkata: The talented footballers of Durbar Sports Academy are waiting for their “Udaan” to take off. The date on which history would be created one again is 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 wards of downtrodden 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. This is when xtratime decided to come forward to support them so that they can see their dreams turn into reality. As a pioneer sports website xtratime.in and leading cable networks SITI Broadband had joined hands in organizing a fundraising concert last Saturday at Nazrul Mancha to send them to Denmark to take part in the tournament.
The concert named ‘Udaan’ – Flight of Hope had seen the top singers of the country voicing their popular numbers to support them. The artists had all come forward to support the noble initiative taken 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.”
Renowned singers like Sidhu, Rupam, Rupankar, Anupam Roy, Usha Uthup , Lopamudra Mitra, Imon Chakraborty, Manomoy , Anindya Chatterjee and others rocked the stage with their popular numbers. Music director Arindom who had become a sensation in Tollywood industry in a short period with some big hits in few films had light up the stage with Atletico De Kolkata theme song “Fatafati Football” joining him was the “Te Amo” guy Ash King. The duo of Ash King and Arindom’s numbers were acknowledged by the crowd as Ash King left the stage and went towards the audience and sang with them.
The programme commenced with the 16 players who were brought on to the stage wearing their new jersey for the Dana Cup and they were accompanied by DJ Akash who composed the theme song for the Durbar Sports Academy children. Former cricketer and MoS of Sports (WB) Laxmi Ratan Shukla was present to encourage the guys as well as East Bengal and Mohun Bagan coach Trevor James Morgan and Sanjoy Sen. The duo of Sanjoy Sen and Trevor Morgan too accompanied the children and inspired the guys with their pep talk as well as they clicked photographs with them. The presence of the two coaches with Laxmi Ratan Shukla gave the children a lot of confidence ahead of their tour to Denmark.
Udaan – Noble Initiative of Xtratime Alongside the Popular Singers & Coaches make this an Immense Success yet Again
About Durbar Sports Academy:
Based out of one of Asia’s largest red light districts; Sonagachi in Kolkata, the Durbar Football Academy started its journey in 2013. Founded in the 90s and run under the Durbar Mahila Samanway Samiti, DFA is running a campaign for better lives of the children of sex workers through the medium of football. It is helping the little ones in being a part of socio-cultural society that exists around them. To overcome the pain and the stigma attached to their backgrounds is a traumatic process for these young ones, but they have chosen to take support of the beautiful game to provide a new direction to their lives and engrave a meaning.
It began as an extension of Rahul Vidya Niketan, a shelter for the children of the sex workers in Sonagachi. Located in the suburban Baruipur, the DFA is not just any other football youth academy. It is a medium and an opportunity for these underprivileged children to not only be a part of the mainstream society, but also to lead towards a life of pride, honour and dignity.
The academy, credited for producing the captain of India’s junior team that registered a berth in an international tournament has transcended the borders of marginality and has become very popular in many other parts of Kolkata. Parents from surrounding areas send requests in hundred to train their children too- a far cry from the days when DFA’s crop of youngsters used to be abused, humiliated, feel ashamed and get labelled as children of sex workers.
Apart from football, Durbar also has dedicated training facilities for other sports. The DFA also runs an U-14 and U-16 football team that regularly participates in many state level and national tournaments.
About Dana Cup:
The Dana Cup, one of the world’s largest football tournaments takes place every year in the North Jutland town of Hjørring in Denmark at the end of July. The International football tournament is connected with more than 30,000 participants, leaders, coaches and supporters from all around the World every summer. Young footballers aged between 10 and 19 years of age, all playing the wonderful world game – FOOTBALL.