Kasel’s undying passion for football

The residents of the border village of Kasel have maintained a deep affection for sports, especially football, for decades. Their unwavering passion has brought national-level recognition to the village. Kasel is home to a football ground that is built as per international standards, a facility that many nearby cities do not possess. Last year, the ground was selected to host a national-level football championship. The field, measuring 110m X 70m, is regularly maintained.

According to Hindu mythology, the village is associated with Mata Kaushalya, the mother of Lord Rama, who is believed to have worshipped at a local Shiv Mandir. A historic Shivalaya still exists in the village as a symbol of this heritage.

Under the directions of the Union Government, the Sports Department organised Pool-B matches of the Senior National Football Championship (Santosh Trophy) at the Bibi Ratni Sports Club’s ground last year. Teams from Delhi, Uttarakhand, Chandigarh and Haryana participated in the tournament.

Sarwan Singh (45), a football player from the village and an employee of Indian Railways under the sports quota, said that the village has a documented 60-year history of active participation in sports. He added that the village once had a Young Farmers Football Club, which regularly won local and state-level tournaments.

Many villagers said that their love for sports has been evident for over 90 years, supported by various historical records. Bibi Ratni Sports Club, Kasel, is officially registered with the state government’s Sports Department. At present, the club provides football coaching to around 100 boys and girls, under the guidance of Germanjit Singh, a national-level football player and medallist, who is also a resident of Kasel. He has been deputed by the state government as the village’s official coach. Players train twice at the ground every day.

Some players receive a daily sports diet funded by the Sports Department. The entire village stands united in support of sports, with financial aid provided by the management of Gurdwara Bibi Ratni, Kasel, to the club whenever needed. The gurdwara management also provides sports kits, shoes and other essentials to the players and assists in the maintenance of the football ground.

Remarkably, every household in the village has at least one member who regularly participates in sports on the ground. Over the last three years, Kasel’s players have actively participated in the ‘Khedan Watan Punjab Dian’, winning medals in the 14, 17 and 21-30 age groups.

The village football team consistently wins 10 to 15 local and state-level tournaments annually. Additionally, several players compete with well-known football academies across the state.

Thanks to their strong sporting backgrounds, more than 30 villagers have secured employment in various sectors, mostly in the Indian Army. Kasel’s enduring love for sports, particularly football, continues to inspire new generations and strengthen the village’s identity on the national stage.

Amritsar