IndianFootball.Com Interview: GURMANGAL DASS

Sometimes, we come across a personality that is so giving, honest and morally upright that it inspires us. One such name doing stellar work is Gurmangal Dass in Punjab. This young man had an admission into a US university and could have joined the many NRI's overseas, but the tug of the village was so strong, that he not only gave the US opportunity a miss, he decided to carry on where he was born and not head for a big Indian city.
Gurmangal saw the inadequacies extended to the youth in his village as a challenge and took-up the challenge. He used his love for football as a channel of positive change that is now ready to spread to other parts of Punjab. Gurmangal has been awarded many awards, including one by the Governor of Punjab for promoting sports as a way of life and progress. It is the misfortune of India and India football; that people like him are not in the limelight. With this interview, we hope to do our part in bringing the stories of hope and great work done by people like Gurmangal to the attention of others!

Please tell us about how and why did YFC Rurka Kalan come into existence?

The village Rurka Kalan in Jalandhar District has been harbinger of social and patriotic movements. The village had been a centre of Gadar Party movement and has produced 22 freedom fighters. Similarly in the field of sports Rurka Kalan has been a trendsetter. The village has produced five international footballers, hundreds of national level players since 1965. The village has also produced many renowned Kabaddi players and athletes.
In the present scenario taking a serious concern of youth delinquency and drug addiction the young footballers of Rurka Kalan have set up a 'Social Centre of Excellence'. This centre apart of achieving excellence in football has the motive of all round development of rural underprivileged youth and children. The history of this institution is marked by sacrifices of young volunteers.
In year 2000 our football team took oath to promote their beloved sport football and to channelize the energy of youth into productive work, so Youth Football Club was formed. This team worked hard on the field to win prize money tournaments and volunteered in building infrastructure, raising funds and educating children and youth.
Fund raising has been a very interesting part of the whole project; apart from raising money by winning tournaments the volunteers turn Lohri celebration into fund raisers. The volunteers visit the homes of newly born babies, perform Bhangra and request funds for the cause. Last year they raised Rs. 40,000 by this event alone. Volunteers also put up cycle stands for fund raising. The village NRI's and farmers too chipped in. The farmers brought 300 trolleys of soil from a place 20 km away in just three days. Volunteers sweated it out to level the field and plant grass on it. So a well levelled lush green football field with underground irrigation system was made.
Now YFC has its chapters in UK, Canada, America and Europe. These NRI's send financial help on a yearly basis. Recently an NRI from UK has donated Rs. 3 lakhs for Computers and Gurdial Singh of Scotland has donated 8 lakhs for construction of a residential block. In the next step the construction of Football Park was done.
The club got registered as a body under Societies Act 1860 and is exempted from Income Tax U/S 12A and 80G. The club bears the total educational experiences of very poor players. The 40 youth volunteers' team helps the children in every aspect. Now the club has constructed 'Youth & Sports Development' centre with a cost of Rs.50 lakhs. The centre will be one of its kind in the state. The building houses a Computer Laboratory, Office, Study Rooms, Multi Activity room with LCD Projector and a Theatre System, Excellent Boarding and Lodging facilities of 12 trainees. The club has 10 students from around the Punjab living in the Hostel. The boarding & lodging expenses are borne by the club. Ultra modern Health club is also set up with a cost of Rs. 50 lakhs donated by single NRI family in the memory of their belated son.
The club has a Career Counselling & Guidance Centre plus a small Rural Library. The club wants to use the latest technology for the upliftment of rural youth. In Multi Activity Hall regular presentation, seminar and debates are held with a view to develop patriotism, career consciousness, uprightness, personality and discipline among rural kids.
With a view to involve all stake holders of society in this movement YFC family has adopted a single teacher village Primary school and provided three teachers to the school. Other than these 100 students of the school are to be felicitated by uniforms, shoes and other freebies. The club has chalked out plans to develop these children with latest infrastructure available at the Youth Centre. Other than Computer education the club has planned to open more vocational courses for underprivileged youth of area.
The Club is active in Youth Development activities and affiliated with Nehru Yuva Kendra and State Department of Youth affairs and Sports. The Club is running a Sewing and Stitching Centre, Beautician Training Centre and Computer Education in the village for girls from poor families. Trainees of Vocational Training Centre are also given stipend.

Please give us a bit of background on yourself?

I was born on 14th April 1975 in the home of Shri Sewa Dass. We are basically a religious and agricultural family. I have three sisters and one brother. All of them are married. Two of them are Doctors and one is a teacher. My younger brother is a Footballer and represented Guru Nanak Dev University in the All-India Inter University Football Tournament. We have a large farm here which I, my brother and my father manage. My whole family is devoted to social work. I did my Electronic Engineering Degree in 1997. Then I worked for a private concern. I got admitted to the University of Nevada Reno, USA but my family circumstances, the love for my village defeated the urge to study and have a career abroad. I got married in 2006 with Harpreet Kaur.
Since then I am working for football and Youth. I have also done a diploma in Youth Development form IGNOU (India Gandhi Open University). My family is fully supportive to me in this cause by sparing me from family business and also contributing monetarily.
I believe that sports can be a medium for social development. I feel satisfied by serving the youth.

Please describe the training facilities at your academy, the number and age groups of the students and the coaching set up?

We have one full pitch and two half pitches which are grassy and well maintained, an ultra modern gym, a sand pitch, Athletic track for training. We have experienced team of five coaches headed by Dr. Jitender Sharma (former coach of Chandigarh Football Academy.

Age Group	Coach	Training Sessions Per Week	Type of Training
U12	Mandeep Kumar	6	Basics, Receiving and Passing and Fun Games
U14	Jitender Sharma	12	Basics, Endurance, agility with Ball and Small sided Games, etc
U16	Kulwant Singh	12	Basics, Endurance, agility with Ball and Small sided Games, etc
U19 & Seniors	Amarjit Dari	12	Basics, Endurance, Agility with Ball, Technical and Tactical Training and Small sided Games etc.

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