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| JagranCityPlus / Bangalore-Gen X
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A Pele in the making
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Manivannan Rajendra
Manivannan Rajendra is only 16, but is already on his way to realising his soccer dreams. This Viveknagar youngster has been chosen to represent Tata Tea Jaago Re Soccer Stars in the 20th Arsenal International Soccer Festival that will be held at the Royal Holloway University, Surrey, England, from August 2 to 8. Manivannan is one among the final 16 players came through various stages of elimination in the Tata Tea Jaago Re Super Stars tournament that involved around 6,000 school children from 500 schools across the country.
Hailing from a poor family raised by his father Rajendra who does some petty job as his mother Manjula had passed away long back when he was only six years old, undeterred Manivannan said, "It's very exciting to take part in the English tournament. I am training harder now because I want to be a professional player some day."
Speaking to this writer on Monday before leaving to Kolkatta en-route to England, he said "I would love to play for one of the top teams one day and bring laurels to the country".
Scores of residents, relatives, noted football players, friends and well wishers gave him a warm sendoff on that day. Viveknagar and surrounding areas has produced number of football players of repute till date. S Raman, the football player who represented the country at the 1948 Olympics in Great Britain to score a goal against France was from this area. For him this sport has come from his blood as Manivannan - the third generation kid, is a close relative of Raman. At that time Raman had played bare feet, who was popularly known as 'Left leg' Raman. Even now his kin and friends have formed Raman United Sports Club where young football players are trained.
Manivannan too was felicitated by this club. Some noted football players Shanthakumar who represented the Indian team and Sethuram gave him the jersey (Indian team) and shoes respectively at the function.
Manivannan is the product of Government Sports School, Vidyanagar and currently studying I PU Arts at Vidyavahini College, Vidyanagar.
He took to this sport very early in life at the primary school itself. While studying at St Patrick's Primary School, he used to play football at the school grounds after school hours till his father came searching for him. Day-by-day his craze to play football increased. After he passed out seventh and since he was good in sports, he was selected for the sports school falling under the Department of Youth Services and Sports.
There only he got into formal training in football. Manivannan's shyness slips away on the pitch, where his rising ball skills are noticeable. His brother Manimaran also plays competitive soccer but, at the moment, Manivannan is the one making the moves on the pitch.
This mid-fielder had been recently awarded the best player at the State-level schools tournament. Last year he had got highest scorer award, besides he had been selected twice to represent the national team. His school team is champions twice at the state meet.
His first coach, Dada Peer, can't praise the youngster enough. "Manivannan is fantastic and growing in confidence," he said and added "He is a good passer of the ball and has a natural feel for the game". At Sports School, he learnt the skills of the ball from another coach Krishna and now he is learning from David Prasad who is a senior coach. But Manivannan thanks Mary Victoria and Nandini for identifying the talent and referring him to join sports school four years ago.
—Akshaya Deva
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