‘Slum soccer has evolved in the past five years’

When asked about how she developed a bond with the sport, she added, “I started to play football only when I was 13. My friends and I had the access to play it in our school premises. We started to enjoy it and we decided to form our own school team so that we could take part in competitive tournaments.” 

Thenmozhi, who now works part time in a medical shop in Chetpet, had to overcome various battles before reaching the highest level. “We did not have a proper coach to teach us the sport. It was Sam Daniel Raj, a PET master in our school, who helped develop various facets of the game by learning the intricacies from trained coaches,” said the 24-year-old. 

Commenting on how she made it to the national team’s slum soccer squad, the goalkeeper explained, “A trial was conducted in Nagpur for those who performed well at the 2011 Nationals. We had a 15-day camp after that. I was selected alongside two other girls from Tamil Nadu, Shankari and Pavithra, for our trip to Poland.” 

The Chennai-based girl is now focussed on giving back something to the sport she loves the most, by conducting free coaching sessions for fellow homeless friends in the mornings. She was also invited to be a part of the Tamil Nadu squad which took part in the recently-concluded National Inclusion Cup in Mumbai. “I am really thankful to Uma Shankar who brought me here. It has been two years since I left Quaid-e-Millath college after the conclusion of my M. Com course. Despite that, they have remembered the services I rendered them during my time there and gave me an important role in the TN side,” she signed off.