29-07-2025
Govt football turf fuels students' dreams
At the Govt Higher Secondary School in Sholinganallur, Chennai's first govt football turf is more than just a place to play. Replacing their earlier muddy, uneven field, the new turf built by Greater Chennai Corporation under 'Namakku Naame Thittam' is helping students dream bigger, train harder, and grow more disciplined.
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For students such as M Mathisha, the opportunity to train on the turf means year-round access to the sport they love, regardless of weather. "Earlier we used to play on a muddy ground. When it rained, we would forego practice," says Mathisha, who began playing football in Class VII. "Now we train all the time. Since I play for zonal and district matches, this turf has helped me work on my form better, and my stamina is preserved better.
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K Yoshini, whose seniors inspired her to take up the sport last year, says she dreams of becoming a lawyer. "I come from a family of modest means. My mother is a housewife, and my father is a tailor. With regular training, I hope to secure college admission through the sports quota," she says.
The school's physical education teacher, P Sivanesan, who has been training students since 2018, says the turf has transformed their interest in sports.
"If I give them a drill, they are pushing their limits and going well and beyond what I ask them to do," he says.
Training begins at 6am and ends at 8:30am, and again from 4:30pm to 5:30pm. This turf has drawn the attention of other students also. "We may see an increase in participation," says Sivanesan.
Currently, more than 70 students are actively training on the turf, 40 girls and 30 boys, and it's indicative of how inclusive and aspirational the programme has become.
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S Kannappan, director of Tamil Nadu school education department, says, "We shall work with GCC and roll this out in other govt schools. The department's goal is to encourage sports in schools."
Beyond football, several govt schools in Chennai are also promoting sports such as fencing, weightlifting, boxing, and basketball. With Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT) regularly scouting for talent, it has found some of the best fencers in govt schools across the district.
As a part of the CM Trophy, a state-level sports competition organised by govt, school students can participate and apply to avail training and support free of cost.
"Sports should not be a privilege, it should be accessible to every child, regardless of where they study or what their background is. We're working to ensure that more students, especially those from underprivileged backgrounds, are provided with basic infrastructure, coaching support and adequate nutrition so that every student has an opportunity to discover their potential through sport," says J Meghanatha Reddy, member secretary of SDAT.
