Once soccer stars, these Odisha women footballers struggle to make ends meet

Although efforts are on to position Odisha as the country’s 'sports capital' to host international events but these football stars of yesteryears are now poverty-stricken. Dolly Munda, Sunita Soren, Dipti Kisan, Santoshini Oram, Meena Aaind and Subasini Baag, who had represented and achieved success by participating at a national level tournament in the year 1998, are struggling hard to make ends meet.

Sambalpur: As many as 20 former national-level football players of Odisha's Sambalpur district who had once exhibited their excellence on the football field are struggling hard for their livelihood.

Although efforts are on to position Odisha as the country’s 'sports capital' to host international events but these football stars of yesteryears are now poverty-stricken.

Dolly Munda, Sunita Soren, Dipti Kisan, Santoshini Oram, Meena Aaind and Subasini Baag, who had represented and achieved success by participating at a national level tournament in the year 1998, are struggling hard to make ends meet.

Dolly Munda who had once represented Odisha women's football team is now busy in preparation for ‘bidis’ to meet her bare expenses. She was a national level football player. She had started her career in football in 1998 and rose to become the captain of the Odisha women's football team in 2007.

She had exhibited her excellent performance in more than 10 national level tournaments and had earned laurels. But it is a matter of mockery that today she is deprived of all types of government assistance and is passing through a dangerous situation by restricting her life among tobacco leaves.

Likewise, another player is Mina Munda in 1998 was the goalkeeper of the Sambalpur women's football team. She had also achieved a lot of noteworthy success for the state with her participation in Junior national, senior national and many other national level tournaments. However, the successful goalkeeper of that time is washing utensils today to meet her goal in life.

Similarly, Dipti Biswal was playing as left forward for the team. She had also brought glory for the state by taking part in the tournaments held at Kolkata, Assam, and Rourkela.

There are several other women footballers, including Bandana Oram, Madhumita Meher, Minati Tirkey, Parbati Munda, Ratani Munda, Prema Munda, Padmini Suna, Karmee Munda, Reena Oram, Drupati Munda, Runu Thappa, Rajni Oram, Sasmita Tappo, who are struggling to live with dignity.

There are provisions to employ the players in specific categories, but when you see these unfortunate players, one feels as if the government ignored their contributions.

According to sources, several times in the past, these players had met the district collector and the revenue divisional commissioner. They have been appealing to the government many a time for employment but in vain.

While the local MLA Jaya Narayan Mishra had alleged, "The state government has no sympathy for the players. No government officer is prepared to discuss their plight."

The game of football was never a profession for these players; it was something like an obsession for them. Therefore, they have not lost their attraction for the game amid their struggle for existence in life. It seems as if football and the fields are still waiting for them.

However, the question today arises as to whether the government has any obligation towards these players who had brought pride and glory for the state and had devoted much of the valuable time of their life for the game.