In a cricket crazy nation like India, other sports have really found it hard to come up with an youth icon or an inspiration that can really help a sport grow further and push youngsters to take it up. Although, football has always been right up there in terms of popularity, lack of infrastructure and proper backing from the government have dented many hopes and dreams of becoming a footballer and playing for India.

For the longest of time, Indians have remained passionate spectators to the European leagues like the Premier League and La Liga. Dreaming of representing a club like Manchester United and Real Madrid is not only a distant dream but a joke when you state your desire to represent the biggest clubs of the planet. However, recently, with clubs looking to expand their brands to Asia and scouting for talents, the situation has improved.

Clubs like Manchester United, Arsenal have all held camps in India recently and sent their legends to improve the game and promote football but a club that has really been upping the ante is the German powerhouse Bayern Munich. Bayern have sent coaches and have held camps throughout India to scout and then train young players around the world at the famed Allianz Arena. Throughout the world, over 1000 kids have been looked at and around 100 have been selected to live their dream: A chance to train with Bayern Munich.

LIVING THE DREAM

One such kid from the impoverished slums of Bhubaneswar, dared to dream and was allowed to take part in Bayern's latest camp at Pune despite him being underage and he grabbed the opportunity with both hands. Chandan Nayak, 11, whose father left him when he was young and mother works as a housemaid scripted history when he was chosen to train with the Bavarians at the grandest stage of them all. Idolising Lionel Messi, Chandan wishes to live his dream and be like Messi. What gives the talented kid hope is his idol's journey, who much like him was scouted at the young age of 13 by Barcelona as he impressed for his first club Newell's Old Boys and the rest is history.

Chandan as he flies to Munich on the August 25 will look to impress on his trial after wooing everybody including Sunil Chhetri, who was the head coach of the camp. Initially, Chandan was not allowed to play in the camp as he was underage at 11 and the camp being for people in the age group of 14-16. But on insistence from his coach, he was allowed to take part and he impressed everybody including coaches from Munich and that earned him a dream move to Bayern for two months. Although there were initial hiccups regarding passports and a birth certificate, the Odisha government gave him full support and made sure his dreams are not nipped in the buds.

With the time finally here for the young and aspiring Chandan to finally realise his dreams as he trains with his idols and in much better facilities, the young boy from Bhubaneswar will definitely look to woo the coaches and become India's second player to cement a permanent place and contract with an European club after Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, who recently became the first Indian to start a match in the Europa Laeague.

