Mogolmari is a village in the Kharagpur sub-division of West Mednipur. The village became famous after an archaeological excavation disclosed the discovery of a Buddhist monastery. But it never has a tradition of football.
Kalicharan Hansda was alone in the village to play the game regularly. Kalicharan played for the first division and even donned the Customs shirt for a season.
His twin brothers, Lob and Kush Hansda, also became passionate for the game after watching their elder brother since their childhood. But the journey was not easy for the family to continue to exist. They lost their father a couple of years ago. He had a meat shop. All three brothers had to face insult and discouragement from the villagers whenever they went to the adjacent ground for training. Still, the passion never died.
Lob and Kush learning the game from their elder brother at their village ground, settled also in football.
The earnings of the family after their father’s death became viable through football. The twin brothers, along with Kalicharan, started making bread and butter by participating in the ‘masala matches’ across the districts!
The twin brothers, Bengal football is seeing probably for the first time in its recent hostory, had the opportunity to play in CFL, first for a fifth division team, Garden Reach FC, then for a second division team. But Lob had to return home after an injury. So, Kush Hansda, his twin brother, also came back from Kolkata and continued playing in masala matches across the districts.
Bengal Super League (BSL) has given them a transformation as both brothers are planning to quit participating in ‘masala matches’ after getting contract from Mednipur FC. Lob said, “We earn some amount of money from participating in ‘masala matches’. But playing these matches cannot help to build up career. Rather, players can get injuries participating in these matches. Now, we are rejuvenated to have the platform of Bengal Super League. This League is helping us to earn a formidable amount of money. At the same time, our performance is be watched by the football specialists across the country, by the scouts. Participating in Bengal Super League is a blessing for us.”
Nowadays, after they played one match for Mednipur FC, the scenario at their village has changed. The neighbors of their family praise them. Whenever, the brothers have gone back to village, the young boys surround them, seek their autograph.
The most cherished part of this story is that Mogolmari village which hardly encouraged playing football, looks enthusiastic nowadays. Lob said, “Nowadays whenever we go to our village ground young boys are seen playing football. Their parents encourage them giving our example. We become really happy to have watched the scenario that our villagers are gradually encouraging their sons to play football.”
Kalicharan Hansda must be the happiest man in his village. His effort with the twin brothers to make them footballers seems to have paid back finally. But according to Lob, Kalicharan is still not content. He dreams of his brothers reaching the highest level of Indian football, representing state and the country in future.
