The exceptional foundation is on the mission that is helping underprivileged girls earning their identity through football

Eight girls among those 25 have already represented the Delhi girls' squad from sub-junior to senior level.

Anirban Ghosh is not a much-discussed name in the Indian football fraternity. But drop his name in New Delhi's Sangam Vihar Community, the second-largest 'unauthorized' area of Asia, Ghosh is like a god. Even drop his name in the Delhi football fraternity. He is not only one of the most popular names but a section of the people who run Delhi football calls him 'the reformist and rebel.' 

Ghosh and his friends founded a Non-Government Organization (NGO) in 2013 named Khel Khel Me Foundation (KKM). The philosophy of KKM was to offer a healthy life to the girls of those people who can be called underprivileged and marginalized. KKM which had an initiative involving school children, organizing events on athletics, Kho-Kho, etc, started the venture with the girls from Sangam Vihar through football in 2017 and an under-13 team comprising 25 girls, passionate about football, was formed in 2018. The girls used to practice in the parks around their area. Even they built grounds, a kho-kho ground at Aya Nagar and a six-a-side football ground at Sangam Vihar where infrastructure to practice High Jump and Long Jump was built-up. 

Significantly, in the last five years, KKM girls' football made an inspiring take-off. Eight girls among those 25 have already represented the Delhi girls' squad from sub-junior to senior level. Almost 25 percent of the Delhi girls' team consisted of KKM girls. Two among the eight, Ruchi and Saloni are still representing the Delhi women's squad in the national championship this season. The more interesting part of the story is that by partnering with Rangers FC these KKM girls have played Delhi women's league for a couple of years and they lost to the final event last year under the registration of Delhi FC. Even these KKM girls reached the final of the Football Delhi organized Futsal last year.

Anirban Ghosh who has also a license in coaching trains the girls. While commenting on their journey Ghosh said, "Our practice session never stops. It goes on throughout the year and our girls especially those who are now 17 or 18 years old practice against the boys which helps them to grow physically and mentally stronger, and technically more skilled. This apart, before Covid-19 we had participated in several competitions in Delhi as well as outside states. So, I feel the girls become competent on the field in this process that goes on throughout."

The KKM has also an unfortunate part. Despite the successful journey of these girls, Football Delhi has not yet given them affiliation to play in Delhi women's league. Football Delhi has norms where a new club needs to pay a specific amount of money which is nearly Rs 5 lakh. But the amount has been a major obstruction to KKM. 

Significantly, Football Delhi gave the award of best NGO for football development to KKM. But that was returned also. Ghosh said, "It was a reflection of Football Delhi's negligence to us. You are giving us an award but at the same time, you are discouraging our efforts. So we sent the award back to Football Delhi." 

KKM has the desire to get an affiliation of its name and take part in the Indian Women's League (IWL). But Ghosh does not know whether the desire will be fulfilled ever. He concluded, "Unless you become state women's league champion you cannot take part in IWL and as the situation is going on it will be next to impossible to get affiliation of KKM from Football Delhi and our desire cannot be fulfilled." 

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