German coach Dietmar Beiersdorfer to train young footballers from MP’s Shahdol: PM Modi

Speaking during the 125th episode of Mann Ki Baat, the PM shared how a recent podcast conversation with Lex Fridman unexpectedly opened the doors for aspiring Indian footballers

Published on: Aug 31, 2025, 18:05:32 IST

By Shruti Tomar

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Bhopal: German football player and coach Dietmar Beiersdorfer has extended an offer to train young footballers from Madhya Pradesh’s Shahdol at an academy in Germany, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on Sunday.

Beiersdorfer conducted research, reached out to the German Embassy in India, and subsequently wrote a letter expressing his desire to train these players. (Getty)

Speaking during the 125th episode of his monthly radio programme Mann Ki Baat, the Prime Minister shared how a recent podcast conversation with Lex Fridman unexpectedly opened doors for aspiring Indian footballers.

“The life journey of young football players from Shahdol deeply impressed and inspired coach Beiersdorfer. He conducted research, reached out to the German Embassy in India, and subsequently wrote a letter expressing his desire to train these players. It’s truly remarkable—no one could have imagined that talented footballers from Shahdol would capture international attention. Very soon, some of our young friends from Shahdol will travel to Germany for a training course,” said PM Modi.

“I’m also delighted to see the growing popularity of football in India,” he added.

The Prime Minister had visited Shahdol in 2023, where he met footballers from Bicharpur—a village that has transformed from a hub of illicit liquor and narcotics into what many now call a “Mini Brazil.”

This transformation was sparked by Raees Ahmed, a former footballer and coach, who recognised the potential of local youth and began training them with full dedication. His initiative, Football Kranti, has produced over 40 national and state-level players. Today, Shahdol district boasts more than 1,200 football clubs.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shruti Tomar
I have spent over a decade chronicling Madhya Pradesh’s political and social landscape, covering politics, investigative journalism, crime, human interest, and government policy, blending sharp insight with ground‑level depth. I have closely tracked three assembly elections, three Lok Sabha elections, leadership transitions in MP while exposing governance lapses, tender irregularities, and flawed policy rollouts. My reports have revealed gaps in the Cheetah project, irregularities in medical education, rigging in recruitment exams, and loopholes in policy implementation. In crime reporting, I have moved beyond FIRs to map systemic patterns — from organised crime networks and gender‑based violence to custodial accountability — balancing urgency with sensitivity. My journalism is defined by a commitment to human interest. I have profiled the marginalised Bancchda community, documented atrocities against tribal groups, and highlighted efforts to preserve their culture through heritage liquor and revival of spiritual practices. I have reported on farmers struggling with failed MSP promises, giving voice to those often reduced to statistics in policy files. Passionate about field reporting, I have reported on rampant sand mining in Chambal and Narmada, pharmaceutical companies supplying medicines under altered names, the dire condition of schools and colleges, the plight of commercial sex workers, and skewed sex ratios in specific districts. Beyond deadlines, and as HT’s state correspondent and assistant editor in Madhya Pradesh, I engage with ministers, farmers, students, and activists, believing the best policy stories begin with a single human voice. A postgraduate in Journalism and Mass Communication, I also hold a diploma in sports journalism.Read More

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