Indian Football Association provides food, ration kits to clone-affected footballers in Sunderbans

After Cyclone Yaas ravaged a number of areas in the Sunderbans last week, West Bengal's football governing body -- the Indian Football Association -- has extended a helping hand to the budding footballers of the region and their families by providing essential food and ration kits to them.

According to AIFF, the IFA, which has its nursery football coaching centre in the Gosaba delta island in Sunderbans, provided the essential rations to 63 young footballers who train at the academy and their families.

"The cyclone had devastated these regions in the Sunderbans, and many of these players' families had been affected. We felt that it was our duty to look into their wellbeing," AIFF quoted IFA General Secretary Joydeep Mukherjee as saying.

"We have been with them during good times. And now that the bad times have hit, we need to ensure that they are taken care of.

"It was very disheartening to see how badly the cyclone had affected their lives. But still, many of them came forward asking when they would be able to play football again, such was their zeal," he added.

The Sunderbans in West Bengal, are well known to be a hotbed for footballing activities. However, it is also one of the areas that is most vulnerable to natural calamities like cyclones.

While the sport enjoys a lot of popularity, it also fuels dreams of a better future for youths, many of whom have gone on to play professionally.

However, with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the game has taken a back seat as the safety and well-being of the people takes precedence.

( With inputs from ANI )