A TNEB employee, T. Manoharan, is known to students in Tondiarpet and nearby neighbourhoods as “coach” - the man who got them hooked onto football. In May every year, the Madras Port Trust ground is usually packed with different sports and more than 50 students from class 1 to college show up for the free football coaching.

This May too, at the North Chennai Football club, Mr. Manoharan, alongside other coaches, Sulaiman B., Sekar K., and a few more, were training the students on a humid morning. “We all got our jobs through the sports quota, and we wanted to give back to the sport and do something for the children of our neighbourhood who are from disadvantaged backgrounds. That is why we started coaching for free all year round. Summer coaching is usually when many primary school students join,” says Mr. Manoharan, who has been running the football club with the other coaches for the past four years.

“Football is a way of discipline in many pockets of North Chennai. When many are bunking school or getting lured into anti-social activities, we wanted to further push this sport so they will spend their time playing than indulging in other activities,” added Mr. Sulaiman.

How football became a safe space for children of North Chennai

How football became a safe space for children of North Chennai | Video Credit: The Hindu

There were three groups who were practising, and many pointed at S. Mohamed Faroog, a first-year MCC student, as the star of their group as he kicked the ball around. “I got my admission into college through the sports quota. I can easily say football is my identity and it will always be so,” he says. Faroog has played State-level matches twice, along with many league matches. He says for many who couldn’t afford boots and equipment, the coaches buy them a pair and get them homemade sundal and other snacks after practice sessions. “As all our coaches say, playing football got me friends who are alike, and we are also watched by our coaches so that we don’t slip into any bad habits,” he comments, adding that football is indeed a way of life in the neighbourhood.

A class 7 student Mounikashree S., also practises football among one of the beginner groups and says she always had that intrigue when it came to the sport. “I come here during summer coaching every year. And ever since I remember, my parents nudged me to play football,” she says.

After May, the numbers from the huge summer batch dwindle down, but Mr. Manoharan says whoever gets obsessed with the sport keeps showing up at 6 a.m. at the Port Trust ground regardless. “We have students who stick around after summer coaching and go on to play tournaments. But I make sure they go to school right after finishing practice. Many students here study in government schools, and I, in fact, go to their schools for surprise visits to check if they are in classes,” he says, adding football will remain a motif of North Chennai.