Children aged 8 to 14 are typically expected to be out on the field, running with a ball and playing, but instead, these young footballers find themselves scrubbing dishes, washing clothes, sweeping floors, and performing various tasks. While Indian football has shown recent improvement, such a scenario is profoundly disappointing, especially for the ten footballers who journeyed from Kolkata to Bengaluru in hopes of advancing their football careers.

Even though it may sound like a tale, this account is undeniably true. It all began at the Sonarpur Dynamic Sports Academy in South Kolkata. Ten footballers were dispatched from this academy to participate in matches in Bangalore. These boys traveled to engage in the Karnataka State Youth League representing the Black Panther Total Football Club. However, trouble arose swiftly. Although these footballers were slated to remain at the camp and play for a substantial four months, they had to flee after just one month.

Instead of playing football, these players were used as child labor, as revealed by the students. They were tasked with scrubbing dishes and utensils, not only their own but also those belonging to other individuals and coaches of the club. Additionally, they were required to wash clothes in large quantities, cook for others, and were dismayed as they were assured opportunities to compete in the Karnataka football youth league.

Allegations emerged that they were subjected to beatings and treated as laborers, rather than football players. Furthermore, these junior footballers were prohibited from personally contacting their families and were provided substandard food.

Considerable pressure was exerted by the Kolkata football club to release these footballers. Complaints were lodged with various branches of the Kolkata Police. Notably, support also came from the Indian Football Association (West Bengal branch), where IFA Secretary Anirban Dutta and Vice President Sourav Paul stepped in.

Subhodip Kundu, one of the junior footballers, lamented, “We played very little. We worked more. We were utilized as cooks. We washed clothes, swept and polished the floors of every room, and even cleaned the bathrooms.”

Another footballer, Ishan Laskar, who is under 12 years old, expressed, “I was extremely frightened. They wouldn’t allow us to return home. They demanded twenty thousand rupees from each of us if we wanted to leave for home. We were also physically assaulted. The food provided was inadequate and of poor quality.”

Tanmoy Bose, President of Sonarpur Dynamic Sports Academy, condemned the situation, stating, “This is disgraceful. The boys were rescued from that environment. We’ve notified all the associations and AIFF about it. These children were treated as child laborers, causing them trauma. Presently, they are all training at our academy.”

Currently, these footballers have been brought back to Kolkata. Not only that, but they have also returned home. Simultaneously, they are persistently pursuing their dreams. These boys are diligently practicing to fullfill their aspirations.