The football festival marked the conclusion of two Grassroots workshops alongwith the inauguration of JFC-TSRDS Tirildih Grassroots & Youth Center.

Jamshedpur Football Club alongwith Tata Steel Rural Development Society (TSRDS) conducted a football festival in Potka where over 300 enthusiastic kids aged 3-12 years participated under the guidance of Jamshedpur FC’s Head of Grassroots, Kundan Chandra and youth coach Arshad Hussain.

The football festival marked the conclusion of two grassroots workshops (first conducted from 16 to 18 September and another conducted from 22 to 24 September).

48 coaches (out of which 40 were women) put into practice what they learnt in the workshop. The women coaches were from Uttkramit Madhya Vidyalaya, Tangrine and Kasturba Gandhi Balika Uch Vidyalaya, Potka and via TSRDS from various other places across Jharkhand.

The football festival also marked the inauguration of the new JFC-TSRDS Grassroots & Youth Development Center in Tirildih. The festival saw the awe-inspiring presence Jamshedpur FC’s first team player Amarjit Singh Kiyam, CEO Mukul Choudhari and TSRDS’ Empowerment Head, Mr. Amit Tirkey make the visit as chief guests.  

After the festival ended, Amarjit motivated the kids as he said, “It’s great to see so many of you come together to enjoy football. I wish I could go back to your age and participate in such fun festivals. I really used to enjoy these.”

He continued, “It’s also important to respect all your elders – teachers, coaches and parents. The game can be played in the best possible manner if you discipline yourself and respect others.”

Kundan Chandra was delighted to have come so far away from Jamshedpur once again as he said, “First in Kalinganagar and now in Potka. We are trying our best to reach out to kids as far as possible. There is a lot of untapped talent in the rural areas, and the club alongwith TSRDS takes it as a responsibility to try to train them in our philosophy and encourage the best possible outcome from these football-crazy kids.”