Today, we got the opportunity to visit Bandania Village, a small settlement 55 kilometers away from SOVA. The first thing we saw when we stepped out of our car was a large field of grass and dirt surrounded by a well-constructed fence and with two metal goals on opposing sides: a mini-stadium- the village’s main source of pride. The structure was funded by Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Ltd., a local company, because of India’s Corporate Social Responsibility policy that enforces every corporation to donate a certain amount for social causes on a yearly basis. SOVA contributed to the cause by building the facility.
Every September, 50 football teams are summoned from the surrounding area as dozens of villages train their best men in the hopes of winning the ultimate prize: 8,000 rupees and the tournament cup. Thousands of spectators crowd around the field, anxious to see which team will be crowned champion. The event brings the greater community together in more ways than one; while men and women alike bond over the sport, villages join in a week-long festival of dance, food and culture. The celebrations encourage locals to interact and bond with one another, instilling a sense of community and unifying villages in a way that might not have been possible without the tournament. Visiting the mini-stadium and seeing the passion in the eyes of the villagers when they spoke about the tournament was a true testament to the power of sports.
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authorsAntoinette Nguyen |