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Football: Young Kolkata proteges dream of ending their poverty with entry into ISL

Mandi and Mallick, Kolkata’s two prodigious footballers want to establish, overcoming utmost poverty.

By Sujata Sarkar
Football: Young Kolkata proteges dream of ending their poverty with entry into ISL

Kolkata, Aug 8: Basudeb Mandi and Kabir Mallick represent United Sports, the club which once was a regular member in the elite I-league football championship.

But in the last couple of years, United Sports, after having failed to fulfill the licensing criterion, set by the All India Football Federation (AIFF) has been relegated from the I-League.

The club is participating in the Kolkata Premier Football League, this season, and they have started their campaign with a 2-0 victory against Sports Authority of India (SAI) on Monday (August 8).

18-year-old Basudev and Kabir were both outstanding. Team's coach Partha Sen was so impressed to have watched Basudeb's midfield play that he reacted after the match saying, "He has potential to don senior India shirts very soon. If he can continue with the same consistency, then Indian football will get another extraordinary mid fielder in the near future."

However, the reality of these two footballers is completely different. Basudeb lives in a village named Mahipalpur, situated in Hooghly district, which is one of the remotest places in the district.

Basudeb's father, Karthik Mandi, is a mere blacksmith and in a bid to run his family, comprising wife and two daughters, senior Mandi along with his wife also work in the field by trying to raise crops. Even Basudeb joins his parents in the field during off-season.

The crafty midfielder, whose defence-splitting pass guided United Sports striker Sibra Narzary slot home to give his team the lead, said on Monday, "My dream is to get opportunity to play in the ISL. I need to earn a lot from football. I want to change the lifestyle of my family including me. We have been struggling a lot."

Similar reaction was heard from Kabir Mallick. The United Sports defender has been showing consistently performance for the last couple of years.

Kabir and Basudeb both have been representing under-18 I League for the last two years.

Kabir's father Kiran Mallick works as sweeper! That is why, Kabir also dreams of earning a lot from football.

He said, "I want to represent Indian team as well as play for Kolkata's two big giants and buy a luxurious flat for my family. Then I will ask my father to stop doing that job and take rest."

myKhel.com News

Story first published: Tuesday, August 8, 2017, 13:28 [IST]
Other articles published on Aug 8, 2017