Dana Cup bound Durbar Sports Academy players in the press conference today with the celebrities from sports and muxical fratenities. Xtra Time[/caption]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. 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.”
Today, a press conference was arranged in HHI on ahead of the musical concert. Renowned footballers like Debjit Majumdar, Pritam Kotal, Arnab Mondal, Shouvik Ghosh, Mehtab Hossain was present during the press conference to encourage the children as they were present too in the press conference. They looked overwhelmed with joy and happiness by the presence of their heroes. The Indian footballers too shared a light moment with the Durbar Sports Academy children.
Former footballer and M.L.A. Dipendu Biswas was present too for this noble occasion. Dipendu Biswas quoted as saying, "I want to see these footballers blossoming in the future. Hope they do not get fade away. They have a bright future ahead."
I.F.A. Secretary Utpal Ganguly encouraged the boys and shared some tips with them. He too promised to sponsor their kit. Utpal Ganguly said, "I will not be surprised at all if they come back with the Dana Cup in their arms. I will not be even surprised if I see some of these players playing for the big clubs and representing the nation too in the International level."
Four of the 23 singers, who would be performing in the concert on the 8th July was present too in the conference like Sidhu, Arindom, Madhumanti and Ujjayni.
Fashion designer Abhishek Dutta will be designing the team jersey while the theme song will be composed by Dj Akash.
List of the singers who are supporting the cause:
1. Ash King
2. Anupam Roy
3. Sidhu
4. Rupam
5. Arindom
6. Lopamuddra
7. Joy Sarkar
8. Rupankar
9. Somlata
10. Manomoy
11. Iman
12. Anik
13. Madhumanti
14. Prosen
15. Aditi Munsi
16. Satadal
17. Gabbu
18. Ujjayani
19. Anindya Bose
20. Raghab
20. Raghab
21. Usha Utthup
22. Timir Biswas
23. Sayani Palit
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 to better the 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.
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