HT GIFA is a good opportunity to develop sportsmanship: Og Blasters

The seven-member junior team said the event has given them an opportunity to socialise

The seven-member Og Blasters team — a junior team participating in Hindustan Times Great Indian Football Action (HT GIFA) from Sector-54’s Orchid Garden — has said that the event has given them an opportunity to socialise.

Members of the Og Blasters team have been practising for two hours every day and focus on honing strategies to help them win the GIFA title. (Abhinav Saha/HT Photo)

The players have formed a Whatsapp group where they discuss strategies to win the title, and have been practising for two hours every day.

The players’ mothers said that they were also soccer fans and that all of them had been looking forward to HT GIFA, which, they said was one of the greatest events for children, community building and sportsmanship.

“We are not just mere spectators of the sport but share the same love and passion for football,” said Vaishali Dubey, Rohan Dubey’s mother.

“These days, children are more interested in football than in cricket. This event helps them to get to know their peers better and help them face challenges in life, as they come across several competitive people,” said Saurabh Gupta, father of Abhinav Gupta, one of the players of the team.

The participants said that such events should be conducted on a regular basis.

“The children here are very excited to win a title for the condominium. It is a good initiative towards sportsmanship,” said Nishith Reen, a team member.

Most of their discussions have been centred around football over the past few months because of HT GIFA preparations, said the players.

“We are always trying to find out ways which we can use on the field against the opponent,” Adil Chopra, a team member, said.