Don Bosco Football Academy finishes second in the Kerala Women’s Football League

(MissionNewswire) Don Bosco Football Academy made its mark in professional football (soccer) in India by finishing second in the Kerala Women’s League during the 2021-2022 season. Organized by the Kerala Football Association, six professional clubs from Kerala took part in the championship, which was in its third season. This was the first year that athletes from Don Bosco Football Academy participated.

The matches were played in the stadium in Thrissur, the cultural capital of Kerala, and were preceded by a female celebrity friendly match with the participation of actresses Rima Kallingal and Malavika Jayaram.

The Don Bosco Football Academy provides children the opportunity to learn and develop football skills. With a well-maintained home ground, players are trained to explore and love the game. Players are engaged in tactical and technical training sessions that ensure the success of the player and the team.

The academy’s founding ground rule “We play by the principles of the game” ensures a focused approach on individual players which guarantees the growth of the player and success of the team. Don Bosco Football Academy accomplished a groundbreaking entry into the field of competitive football tournaments with a two-star accreditation by the All India Football Federation in 2019.

“Sports programs teach youth both on and off the field,” said Father Gus Baek, director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “Learning and playing team sports encourage leadership skills as well as teach youth to work as part of a team. Students also learn important social skills and have opportunities for growth and maturity.”

Salesian programs around the globe have a focus on socio-sports education. Playing sports helps youth learn new skills and engage with their peers. Sports and activity are particularly important during the pandemic when many have become more sedentary.

India has the world’s fourth largest economy but more than 22 percent of the country lives in poverty. About 31 percent of the world’s multidimensionally poor children live in India, according to a report by the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative. A multidimensionally poor child is one who lacks at least one-third of 10 indicators, grouped into three dimensions of poverty: health, education and standard of living.

Salesian missionaries living and working in India place special emphasis on rescuing and rehabilitating children engaged in child labor. There are Salesian-run programs throughout the country that have helped hundreds of thousands of vulnerable youth through the years, and this work continues today.

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ANS – India – “Don Bosco Football Academy” in second place in professional women’s football tournament

Don Bosco Football Academy

Salesian Missions – India

World Bank – India