Bengaluru, August 10: It didn't seem unusual to M Nikhil Raj and D Dhanush when their coach Lars 'Lungi' Sorensen called the troop together after an extended training session last Sunday (August 5).

A team huddle was the norm at Kickstart FC but Sorensen had a sparkling smile when he turned towards the two. "Congratulations Nikhil and Dhanush," Sorensen announced. "You will be going for a training stint with the Under-19 squad of Esbjerg fB and I wish you the best of luck."

Amidst the applause from their Kickstart FC teammates, Nikhil and Dhanush were lost for words.

Nikhil, a 17-year-old from Murphy Town, took a plunge when he discontinued studies and dedicated himself for football to support his widow mother.

Dhanush, also 17 and hailing from a family of footballers, has a chance to continue the legacy. Their journey would begin on Saturday (August 11) and they have 15 days to impress the coaches at Esbjerg on a possible move to Europe.

"I lost my father a year ago to what seemed like a normal fever," Nikhil, a winger, says in Tamil. "There are just three of us home - my mother, younger brother and me. My life is football now and I want to use this opportunity to land a contract in a European club and make my mother proud."

The move came about because of Sorensen, a former head coach at Esbjerg. Since joining Kickstart FC as the head coach and technical director, Sorensen has been trying to facilitate an exposure tour for the trainees at the Kickstart FC Academy and the training stint for Nikhil and Dhanush could be the first of many, he says.

"I am in touch with them constantly," Sorensen says. "When I proposed this move to them, they were open to it as they are curious about what's happening in India. Remember, they are not going for a trial. It's not like Esbjerg has invited two each from China, Australia or elsewhere. These are the only two who will get to train with the U-19 squad. If they perform well, they will be retained by the club. If they come back, it will still be a good experience for them. They are just 17 and they still have two years at the U-19 level."

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Dhanush, who can play in the defence as well as the midfield, wants to keep going for family, friends and country.