![Despite the difficulties Downtown Heroes in a 'noble' mission; promoting women’s football and ‘underprivileged’ boys in Kashmir](https://parallelsports.in/images/upload/cover/1721736953.jpg)
In a bid to strengthen the side before Durand Cup, Downtown Heroes has roped in three foreigners, two from France and one striker from Liberia.
The club began its journey in Indian football only four years ago. They were runner-up in the Christmas Gold Cup last year. They won Srinagar Premier League also last year, winning 18 out of 20 matches. The team also took part in the Second Division I-league as well as in the Durand Cup.
The team will again participate in the forthcoming Durand Cup with their opener against Mohun Bagan on 27th July at Salt Lake Stadium.
In a bid to strengthen the side before Durand Cup, Downtown Heroes has roped in three foreigners, two from France and one striker from Liberia.
However, the team’s coach Hilal Parray Rasool divulged he is expecting a noticeable show in the Durand Cup from the local boys who in most have experience of playing in the I-League last season other teams.
But the club's actual desire is different which is to scout, nurture, and promote the potential but financially 'underprivileged' footballers. Simultaneously, the club has introduced a women's football team to promote women's football in Kashmir and take part in the Indian Women's League (IWL).
Along with the men’s and women’s team Downtown Heroes started youth development programs with under-17 and under-15 boys and the girls also. Each of these coaching programs has presently 30 footballers. The academy boys andd the girls' coaching programs are looked after by Ejaz Ahmed Bat.
According to Sheikh Faisal, the team’s manager who also is involved in the club’s administration, 70 percent of these boys are from very poor families who cannot even afford to continue their education. “So, the club has made tie-ups with a few of the schools. Once we find the boys are potential and they are selected in our coaching program the schools, following our request provide scholarships for those boys," revealed Faisal.
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The club does not have its ground yet. Still they run the team's training as well as their coaching programs at the ground provided by Jammu & Kashmir Sports Council against some amount of money. "It is not free. Still, we are thankful to Jammu & Kashmir Sports Council for allotting us the ground against a discounted price," added Faisal.
Even, several boys have joined the club's youth development program, traveling from quite distant places. The parents of those boys are not able to spend money on traveling. The club has arranged hostels for them to stay and continue training.
Faisal explained, “Our aim is to nurture and bring up potential footballers from Kashmir. This effort will help to popularize the game in the state. Simultaneously, another important goal is to build up women's football in Kashmir and set it as a future for budding women footballers. We are the first football club in this valley to have built up a professional women's team."
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Downtown Heroes has applied to the state football association to allow their women's team to take part in the second tier of the IWL this season as there is no women's league in the state.
Simultaneously, the club is also preparing to take part in the third tier of the I-league this season.
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