Under-16 footballer Jatinder Singh was elated when the All India Football Federation (AIFF) selected him as one of the 16 players to view the World Cup Football matches and attend a month-long camp at Johannesburg and Durban under the youth development programme.

The young player of Youth Football Club, Rurka Kalan, Jatinder, said that he had never thought that his spirit for football would give him the chance to watch international matches and meet sports stars.

This Malerkotla-based student of Class VIII of Government Senior Secondary School, Rurka Kalan, had participated in Deloitte Street Child World Cup held at Durban in South Africa recently. Presently, Jatinder has left for Johannesburg to become a spectator of FIFA World Cup 2010 matches.

Talking to HT, Jatinder said that he had attended two camps to get selected in the group of 16. The first camp was held at Goa where 100 players from across India had participated, out of which 30 had been chosen for the second camp. “I was overjoyed when AIFF informed that I was among the 16 players who will represent India and will play friendly matches in South Africa,” remarks Jatinder.

“It was my father’s dream that I become a good football player. Unfortunately, he died in a road accident two years back. However, it was a dream come true for him to see me associated with this under 16 team of India,” he added.

My mother, Sukhwinder Kaur, was very excited when she came to know about my selection, said Jatinder, adding that he will try his level best to prove his mettle in the game. “I have played matches against South Africa, Ukraine, England and Tanzania during the Street Child World Cup. The experience of the matches will help me during the upcoming friendly matches,” he added.

Director, Sports Punjab, Pargat Singh, appreciated the achievement of YFC Rurka Kalan. He said that Jatinder proved that the dedication, spirit and hard practice for any sports pays one day.

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