“Three years ago, there were no girls on the football field. Girls here started to play because of us.”

The Slum Soccer Girl’s Team (Part 1): The Forwarders/ Strikers

The interview was originally in Marathi. The translation is below:

Me: How long have you been with Slum Soccer and what positions do you play?

Player:  We have played for three years as forwarders.

Me: Approximately how many games have you played as forwarders?

Player : Well we have played many games. Some of the girls have even gone to nationals. Five or six of us have gone to nationals. Currently, two of us are selected to play nationally.

Me: Wow! How do tournaments and making it to nationals work here? What’s the process? Do you start at a local level, then win at state then qualify for nationals?

Player: Yeah, we start here then win at state then some of us are selected for the nationals.

Me: So who do you girls play against?

Player: We play locally and then for the state of Maharashtra, then some of us are selected to play nationally. The best from the national team move on to play at an international level.

Me: That’s incredible that some of you were selected for this. What grade (standard in India) are you all in?

Player: Eighth.

Me: Do you go to school and play together there?

Player: Some of us go to school together but not all of us.

Me: And what’s your schedule at Slum Soccer like?

Players: We come to Slum Soccer for programs and tournaments but otherwise we practice close by where we live on our colony’s Slum Soccer ground.

Me: Does the coach come to train you girls then?

Player: Yeah, Homkant sir comes there for practice.

Me: Alright, great. So here is more of an individual question, why did you girls choose to play sports, especially soccer? Why do you choose to play?

Player 1:  Since I began playing sports, I loved it. I continued to play and loved it even more so I stuck with it. We used to just play in our colony. Soccer was my first sport, I never played any sport before soccer.

Player 2: Slum Soccer came to our school and asked us to come to the ground one day . We all played for a while. Made us feel like we should never stop playing.

Player 3: Three years ago, there were no girls on the football field. Girls here started to play because of us.

Me: Oh so is there a younger group of girls playing now? If so, how old are they?

Player: Yeah there is. They are probably around 7 years old.

Me: Are you like mentors or coaches to them?

Player: Well we just started playing on our school’s ground. The younger girls saw us and started to play. The number of players started to increase over time.

Me: So did most of you join Slum Soccer after playing in your own colonies?

Player: Yeah some of us did.

Me: Now, your families. Are they okay with you playing soccer being a girl?

Player 1: Well my brother plays here too. So the two of us play here. Initially there was a problem with me playing for Slum Soccer at home. We had to explain the situation and help them understand. Now it is not an issue.

Player 2: Not an issue now, but when I first started playing there were issues during exams. When we started playing at state and national levels though, my mother was more and more supportive. I mean when our society mentions us to our parents or relatives, our families also feel proud.

Player 3: One of the main concerns was that we don’t have enough time to study so we just have to work on that balance, and play.

Me: So are there future opportunities for girls here?

Player: We are organizing a national tournament in June. Different teams from all over India are coming. This will be our second time organizing that tournament.

Me: So after 12^th (grade/standard) will you be able to play if the college you go to has women’s soccer?

Player: That’s true about college, and we can play Slum Soccer for life- there is no age limit.

When asked who their favorite athlete was, as the last question, they answered:

Player 1: Rolando

Player 2: Rolando

Player 3: Wambach

Player 4: Messi

An Introduction to Slum Soccer

About two weeks ago, I emailed Dr. Abhijeet Barse, CEO of Slum Soccer, about visiting. He promptly replied and got me in touch with their chief coach, Homkant Surandase.

On Monday, April 8^th, I flew to Nagpur to spend my day with an organization called Slum Soccer in Bokhara, Nagpur. I am terrible with directions so I had issues getting there but with the help of Homkant, the chief coach, I was able to finally arrive.  Homkant had told the girls team that I was coming and the team were there, waving hello, when I pulled up to their practice field.

The first interview is the Slum Soccer girls team’s story on how they become a team, their impact on changing society, and their influence on the next generation.

Just a heads up. As the Slum Soccer staff was incredible and willing to be on this blog, the next few stories will be from my visit with Slum Soccer.

I will refer to the girls team as a collective group or players, keeping the names anonymous. The coaches (who are also players with Slum Soccer), wanted their names and pictures included with their interviews.

 I’ll post my interview with the girls team’s forwarders tomorrow. 

"If I have to work, at least I work for my children’s sake."

The original interview was in Marathi. Here is the translation:

Manali: What is your home like? Who all do you live with?

Anonymous: At home, there are my children, my parents, and myself. Also, my old brother, another brother, and a two other brothers stay with us and their families. So it was originally one big room but we have made it into two rooms now. So one of the brothers and his family live in one room and the rest of us in the other room. My children, my parents, my older brother and his three daughters, my other brother and his five children, and my younger brother and his child all stay in my room.

M: All of you stay in one room? (A nods yes) So how many people do you live with? What is the total number?

A: So total, the 6 of us, plus 4 so 10. Then another 5. So 15, and then another 7. So total 22.

M: 22 people in one room? (A: yes)  Are you okay with/ enjoy this living situation? Are you just used to it now?

A: I mean the thing is that there are limited places to stay so we all live together. It is a big space.

M: So it seems like you have had to get used to it (A: Yeah). And to make sure again, you are staying with your parents? (A nods yes). So, is your income the only income in the household? I am not sure if you work elsewhere besides your hours here, so is that the only income or does anyone else work too?

A: So the routine is that when I come home from work, I feed my children. My parents go to work daily. So the other brothers in my room support their families on their own. My salary supports my family, and the other brother in the separate room runs his own household. If I ever need money though, my brothers loan me the money, maybe around 500 or 600 rupees at a time. They help me when needed. I do have to give them that money back later though. I mean any money I borrow from them I have to return.

M : So if you are sick or just tired, do they help watch your kids? And obviously that’s vice versa? You do the same? (A: Yes)

M: So what is your household income? You get two more salaries right? You mentioned your mom and dad?

A: I mean, with my parents working, the household income can be 100 or 200 rupees daily. We use all of that to buy groceries and make food. We are not on the ration system. We operate with this initial money every day. This is how it works in my household regularly.

M: Of the money that comes home daily, how much of it goes towards food?

A: A lot of it because if though we buy everything and have to keep everything ready to eat; it isn’t sufficient. But still, I mean even if we don’t eat all day, we need to eat at least once a day. We can do at least that much.

M: So you get one meal per day and most of the money made daily goes towards getting what’s needed to make dinner and making it at home? (A nods yes)

M: Do you think that giving your children nutritious food is a challenge or do you give them nutritious food?

A: No, it is not possible. I mean give them a meal a day but I can’t give them something like fruits because I simply don’t have that income.

M: I mean providing nutritious foods obviously depends on being able to afford it, is there any other solution to getting them nutritious food or do you think that money is the main and only hurdle you face when trying to provide your children with a healthy diet? What do you think would have or can help provide them with nutritious food?

A: I mean I hope that when they grow up and stand on their own feet they will be healthy. I mean, look, I am alone. My husband doesn’t earn anything nor does he come around to visit, so then it is all up to me. I take care of them and raise them, so I do my best and give them what they need as best as I can.

M: What is the most challenging part of providing food, regardless of nutrition? Is making the cooking challenging or buying the necessary groceries?

A: Making the food.

M: Why?

A: I mean see, when I go home from work either I or someone have to make the food. First we have to buy it, whether that is rice, or chappati, or bhajis (vegetables) then we have to make it. So after we make all this, we have to get everyone together to sit down and eat. Then we all eat.

M: So who makes all the food?

A: Oh my mom makes the food because I come home around 6 in the evening after work so it is hard for me to cook after I get home so this is how things are if I am not home and working. If I am home then I cook.

M: So the others don’t help cook at all? (A: No)

A: My sister in laws are there but they only do house work they don’t help cook.

M: Oh they take care of their own and you focus on your family and children.

M: How long have you been in the place where you stay?

A: Oh at my mom’s? Probably about 7 or 8 years. So at first my husband was around too but he was able to live together with the rest of the family, and he would drink and say disrespectful things, which my mother did not like. He would leave randomly for about 4 days and then come back. Now it has been about 2 years and he hasn’t been back here at all or given any money.

M: At least if he was around to provide additional money, it would have helped you with the problems you have mentioned.

A: Yes it would have helped. I mean it just isn’t enough but if I have to work at least I work for my children’s sake. Maybe at least they will get to eat full meals. I work here and also go on ferri.

M: What is a ferri?

A: I sell masalas in the market.

M: What about your own meals? We know that you make sure your children are fed.

A:  Well, I eat that one main meal with the family in the evening.

M: Okay so you get that one meal at least? (A: Yes, I get to eat once a day)

M: Thanks for this! I think this story needs to be told. People have a lot to learn from you.

A: I am not sure if there is anything to learn from me. I am not well educated and don't do anything remarkable, but if you think people have something to gain from my little story then please share it. 

I Say "Hi" Too Much: The Story Behind These Stories

Here's a little introduction for those of you who don't know me personally. About 10 months ago,  I moved to Pune, India  from Memphis, TN, USA. I grew up in Memphis and later went to Rhodes College in Memphis as well.  Though I have been lucky enough to travel a lot, this move to India was a long term decision. 

The move over was not far from insane. The packing was endless. Four of our closest family friends helped us get everything to our storage unit (that storage room may be one of the scariest places on Earth because it is so full!) and soon after, we were finally on the flight over to India. I am still not sure how it all worked out in the end. 

After hearing I was moving, a few people from Rhodes asked me what my blog was called, assuming I had already set up a blog. I've never kept a blog till now...I finally gave in last week.

What I don't want to do is give you a play by play of my days here. That's just boring  for two years worth of days. My days are just normal after a point. Sure, the water has to come from a filter, the pollution and poverty are at another level, and my entire family is around so usually that's great, but besides these things, not much to say about my days. It has been a wonderful experience so far!

The unique part about India that I think I should share are the stories of the people I've met here. (The people who know me are probably rolling their eyes right now, because I say hello to entirely too many people. It is kind of an issue. One of my best friends still says that I once made friends on an elevator. That is a lie for the record. I was just saying hi and asking about the person's day... I told you, it's a problem). I still say hi too much in India but that has allowed me to meet some people with truly inspiring lives in this one pocket of India.

The stories will mostly be from Maharashtra. I may have a few from up north in Delhi and a personal one about my great grandmother from Goa. For the people who have the time, I will simply post their interviews. I may just write posts for the others without interviews. Every person will remain anonymous, which seems to be the biggest concern for anyone I have interviewed yet. 

I will start with a local story that inspired me to start this blog. It will be a tough story to hear but the person being interviewed is one of the most genuine and beautiful people I have ever met.  

I'll let you read it for yourself though. 

I hope you enjoy!