Raipur, April 1 -- Established in 1986 with the aim of uplifting tribal communities from the remote Abujhmarh region of Chhattisgarh's Narayanpur district, the Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Ashram has quietly grown into an unlikely cradle for football talent. The ashram is in Narayanpur district of Chhattisgarh, and is about 250 kms from state capital Raipur.
Its impact was visible at the ongoing Khelo India Tribal Games (KITG), where more than a dozen players across the men's and women's football squads represent Chhattisgarh after being groomed at the Ashram. While the women's team qualified for the final, the men's team has also entered the semifinals.
"There are about 12-13 players from the academy in each men and women's football t...