Ishwarya, whose father is a construction labourer and mother a domestic helper, joined CKL in Season 4 while studying at a government school in Vyasarpadi.
CHENNAI: For 14-year-old A Ishwarya, football began as something she did not even know existed.
“When I was leaving home to go to Namakkal, it felt quite difficult thinking that I was leaving everyone behind,” Ishwarya told. “I always taught her to be independent because for us education is the only way to a better life,” her mother Vennila, who has stood firmly behind her, said. She was later selected for LatentView’s RDC Training Programme, where tournaments, exposure camps and residential training under Chennaiyin FC coaches helped sharpen her game. Following SDAT trials, she entered the residential programme in Namakkal. But football also taught her independence.
Today, the beautiful game has provided the Class IX student from Namakkal the chance to wear the Tamil Nadu jersey as she has represented the state in junior-level tournaments, a journey that began at the Chennai Kaalpandhu League (CKL).
A year into CKL, Mariyam is balancing both football and studies, she studies until 10:30pm after practice. Soundarya Rani, a 12-year-old goalkeeper whose father is a carpenter.
“Until Class VI, I was not allowed to play,” she said. “I don’t feel comfortable, still I come for practice,” Soundarya said. Football was not initially an option for Mariyam. Coming from a conservative Muslim family, she was not allowed to play. It was only in Class VII, after her mother saw other girls playing and spoke to the coach. Ten-year-old Esha, a Class VI student and Cristiano Ronaldo fan, discovered football after watching the World Cup. But her family could not afford even basic football essentials. Support from LatentView has now helped provide boots, kits and exposure. For her, Football began with watching a match on her phone and the Tamil film Bigil. Inspired by what she saw, she joined her school team. But her journey was interrupted when she travelled to her native village in Odisha and got caught in floods. On returning to Chennai, she was selected for CKL, giving her another opportunity to pursue the sport she had grown to love. For these girls, football is more than a game. It is a route out of limitations imposed by poverty, family circumstances and lack of opportunity. Even menstruation does not always keep them away from the field.