Lionel Messi fans set up 'Messi Soccer Bank' in his honour in Lucknow
Argentina and Lionel Messi’s World Cup campaign ended in the Round of 16, leaving fans across the world heartbroken, but it didn't break his Indian fan from Lucknow. Lucknow’s Super Sports have recently set afloat a ‘soccer bank’ which is a first in India and have named it after the Argentine superstar.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Mahant Yogi Adityanath inaugurated the ’Messi Soccer Bank’ on the eve of India’s Republic Day which gives free footballs to all the football fans. More than 20,000 footballs have been distributed by the bank so far.
President of Super Sports society told TNN, “Messi is like pure gold, one of the three all-time greats along with Pele and Maradona. He has been an inspiration for the present generation of footballers for over a decade. There is no one like him. That’s why we have named our football bank after him. A football being given in his name will keep inspiring the recipient for the rest of his life,”
The SSC is more famous for its support towards hockey. They host the national tourney every year, apart from organising various state and district-level tournaments to provide opportunities to budding footballers. They also run daily physical training and practice sessions for them.
“Our soccer bank was conceptualised a few months back for promoting the game beyond our trainees. Now, any individual or group with a list of 11 players (boys or girls) can approach us and we provide them a football and also training at our ground,” said SSS chief executive Dhirendra Singh Chauhan to TNN.
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First published: 6 July 2018, 12:21 IST