Shimla-the birthplace of the Durand Cup and the Indian Air Force ...

in Mumbai, one can get lucky and spot Dino Morea enjoy
the game on the field. Former model turned choreographer
Marc Robinson is such a football fan that he started a yearly
tournament in Mumbai to give a platform to amateur football
teams to show their talent. After conquering the hearts of UP,
Bihar and London after Big Brother, Shilpa Shetty willingly
gave hers to Indian football. Even hubby Raj Kundra can’t
seem to compete with her interest in the game.
Football has also been responsible for giving hope to a youth
named Basharat Bashir Baba who is an aspiring Kashmiri
football player. He faced discrimination but persevered and
is pursuing his dream of playing football as a professional
player. Baba also has a movie “Football, Inshallah” made
about him that has been directed by Ashwin Kumar. With
an award in its kitty the movie is about angry Baba who
found hope in football, his father who turned a militant and
then mended his ways and the football coach who came to
Kashmir to instill hope in young Kashmiris. This 83 minute
movie emphasizes the importance of football, in Kashmir
that is plagued by unrest and violence. The sport helps to
instill values and positivity, ensure challenge, adrenalin
rush, improve mental creativity and help deal with stress. In
Baba’s own words, “The mentality of a Kashmiri youth is that
if the police cannot change, nobody can change. But I think
football can change”.
When he initially started Baba faced discrimination while
playing for a big club in Calcutta. Statements like “You are
from Kashmir, you are a terrorist, you are a militant. We don’t
want to play with you.” forced him to leave the club. But the
young promising talent found help at ISAT (International
Sports Academy Trust) founded by the Argentinean coach
Marcus Trio and has been training there.
When things began going well for Baba his application for a
passport was denied stating past militant links of his father.
Baba was furious but later proud that his father had mended
his ways. After Chief Minister Omar Abdullah intervened,
and got him the required police security clearance Baba got
his passport and says, “My passport is a life for me now. It’s
everything.”
His vision is to play for India and then open an academy in
Kashmir. Football gave him a life line and there are many
other unknown Baba’s out there who live and dream the
sport of football. May the sport continue to instill optimism
and hope for all of them.
42 July 2011 purple beret
purple beret July 2011 42