Gurgaon: The FIFA Under-17 World Cup is coming to India in 2017, and more than how the country's young footballers perform in the cup, it's all about leaving behind a positive legacy for the Beautiful Game here.One coach in Gurgaon is certainly putting in the hard yards to create a pool of talented juniors. After 13 years as a journeyman player (Mohun Bagan, Mohammedan Sporting, JCT and Fransa Goa), Mahender Singh Saroha has given 15 years of his life to training the next generation. Now, starting March 20, he wants to reach every society in Gurgaon – city and district – in the next 6 months. "I'm looking at training 300 kids, and I want to target 100 societies," he told TOI.So, besides training the young ones, Mahender and his team of six will select teams which will compete in a district league (a state trial for the kids will follow). Remarkably, he's doing all this out of his own pocket (though he'd be happy to get sponsors' attention). "This is not a business for me, it's a passion," he says, unassumingly. And these are children whose parents would ordinarily struggle to afford paying for the sessions.For the last three years, Mahender has been running the Morning Football Club in the city, teaching boys as young as 7, from the slums, the game's rudiments. "We provide their kit, and also take care of their diet," he revealed. Currently, there are 65 boys with the club, and football helps keep each out of trouble's way.Every day, for 7 days a week, Mahender wakes at 4:30 am and, upon reaching Tau Devi Lal stadium, he'd go through his fitness drills. From 5:30 to 7:30 in the morning, he'll supervise the boys' practice. The rest of the day would be spent planning for the evening session with the lads (4:30 to 7:30).Mahender has worked as assistant coach with the Indian men's and women's teams, as well as the national boys' and girls' squads. But such is the dedication to his wards, he'd gladly turn down the chance to coach the national team, if such an offer came his way. "I want to prepare kids for district, state and national teams – I want to work at the grass-roots."So why does a populous nation like India prop up the FIFA rankings? Mahender thinks that while it's important to develop the system, he feels mindsets must change if the country is to improve its standing in the world game. And that requires many hours of endeavour. "If out of 365 days, I'm working on 200, I'm putting in the effort for these 65 kids."Football is faith for me, and I do this for the game, for the future of the kids." Indian football needs many more Mahenders if she wants to become the Brazil of Asia.