Srinagar, Oct 04: Amid the increase in the cases of drug addiction, Nisar Ahmad Dar, a professional footballer of Srinagar city has taken an initiative to engage the new generation of Kashmir in sports activities.

Nisar believes that engrossing youth towards sports activities is the road ahead to bring back the youth from anti-social activities.

Since 2012 Nisar along with his acquaintances is imparting youth the professional techniques of football. On Sunday he formally launched his endeavor Youth Development Football Academy (YDFA) in Sanat Nagar playfield here. “I have steered number of youth since 2012 in several parts of city. Earlier we were used to play and taught the growing buds in some other place however in June 2021 I shifted to Sanat Nagar to rope up the local youth into sports activities”, Nisar said.

Nisar while expressing serious concern over the involvement of youth into drug and other narcotic substances said, “Recently I saw a video on social media that was taken in some southern city area wherein youth were apparently drunk and indulged in altercation to each other. It jolted my conscience and I promised to myself that I will fight against this nuisance which potentially can consume our future if not attended”. He said, “The video which was disseminating vulgarism prompted me to come forward formally and involve youth into sports activities”.

The Youth Development Football Academy (YDFA) run by Nisar and his friends is currently imparting football techniques to 75 minors aged between 6 and 15. Nisar has a strong belief that his sincerity and dedication will yield good results in future and the number of students within the academy gets doubled soon. “Except Monday and Friday, YDFA remains open for imparting education about football”, Nisar said.

Nisar believes in professionalism, saying I have completed Asian Football Confederation Course (AFCC) under Gabriel E Joseph, Former Director of Coaching, All India Football Federation. “I was passionate to play the game, guide the young and impart the techniques that learners were needed. So I started it years ago informally however today’s event was a formal launch of our endeavor and we are firm to bring those back to right path who went astray”, he said.

He said the frequency of involvement of youth into drug addiction is much high and needs to be dealt with high acumen. He also said youth having stress and involved in drug addiction need to be attended and guided properly lest our carelessness will consume them and will create a catastrophic situation for the entire nation.

According to Nisar the football in past provided livelihood to hundreds of people and paved them a way to rise and shine at national and international level however in current circumstances its future seems ‘bleak’ and ‘desolated’.

“We had Mohammad Yusuf Dar of Dalgate. We had two teams for J&K Police, Food & Supplies Department, one each for SMC, Agriculture, BSNL, R&B, PHE, Fire & Emergency Services, Forest and others, however today we have only two teams playing for J&K Bank and J&K Police which depicts the game was not taken care of”, he said.

He added that players associated with J&K Forest Department represented J&K internationally however due to official apathy their services are yet to be regularized.

Khurshid Ahmad Sufi, associate of Nisar while speaking to Rising Kashmir said, “We had established a little academy however with the grace of Almighty Allah and support from parents, it seems the day is not far when our endeavor will turn into a big institution”.

Sufi who is Manager at Jet Airways, said there is a need to maintain equilibrium in society to save it from getting collapsed morally. He said the academy will also impart moral education to youth, besides good physical and mental health is our motto.

Besides, youth, the launching ceremony of YDFA was attended by District President Srinagar Fayaz Ahmad, Abdul Majeed Kakroo a retired Indian footballer who represented India at the 1984 Asian Cup, Deputy Director SDA Muneer Ahmad Mir, Chairman JK Referee Committee Farooq Shaheen, Manager Jet Airways Khurshid Ahmad Sufi, Sheikh Mohammad Ismael (Ex-Manager R&B Football team), media persons and others.