Nagpur footballers bask in Messi glory

 

 

BUDDING footballers of Nagpur, who yearn to don India jerseys in future, got once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to share the field with football legend Greatest of All Times (GOAT) Lionel Messi in Mumbai on Sunday evening. On his third stop during his four-city ‘GOAT India Tour’, Messi spent an hour at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, engaging with young football players, cricket icon Tendulkar, Indian football legend Sunil Chhetri as well as celebrities from entertainment world.

 

On the occasion, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also announced the launch of ‘Project Mahadeva’, which aims to identify and develop young football players across the State. Out of the 60 selected players, seven Nagpur footballers were lucky enough to ‘play’ along with Messi at the Wankhede. Manas Rathor, Reyansh Gandhi (both Sankalp Sports Academy), Musayb Jamal, Angat Tardse, Abdul Manan (all Porwal), Mona Shahu (Squardon FC) and Shrushti Singh (Nobel Sports Academy) were the fortunate players to ‘play’ alongside Messi and his Inter Miami team-mates Luis Suarez and Rodrigo de Paul. Apart from these footballers Annie Paul, who was one of the event crews and ‘coach’ of one of the teams, also shared the field with the football legend. It was once-in-a-lifetime experience for these footballers who were seen playing one-touch game with the legends. Watching ‘Football God’ in flesh and blood was unreal for these footballers who will also be part of the sports scholarship programme ‘Project Mahadeva’.

 

The players who only have heard the chants of Sachhiiin... Sachhiiin at Wankhede were in for a surprise when the football loving Mumbai crowd cheered in unison Messssiiii... Messssiiii. For them, this opportunity might not come again and all the players will cherish it forever and would tell their stories to those who could not get up and close with the Argentine great. The city footballers were seen shaking hands with Messi after the ‘game’ was over. With mobile phones not allowed they could not capture the moment but later managed to get the videos and they all shared them on social media platforms. A group photo session was also organised with Messi and Chief Minister Fadnavis which these players would savour for lifetime. “I can’t explain the atmosphere when I entered the ground. It was a totally never-seen-before moment for me,” said Annie Paul while sharing her views with ‘The Hitavada’. “I never thought that I would get an opportunity to meet Messi. I am grateful to the organisers and God for giving me this chance. It’s all God’s plan,” she added. In one of the videos, Musayb, who plays for MM Rabbani Academy, was seen standing by side of Messi while playing one-touch game. Rathor too received a ‘touch pass’ from Messi. All in all this meeting will double up the love for football in these players.n