Children of a government school experiencing the joy of sports, thanks to the Sports Coaching Foundation’s initiative.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Taking sports to schools and chasing what once seemed like an impossible dream, the Sports Coaching Foundation (SCF), founded by former Andhra Ranji cricketer K. Sai Baba in 1991, has embarked on a remarkable journey. Based in Masab Tank, Hyderabad, the foundation is committed to providing essential sports amenities free of cost to students in government schools. From sports equipment for affordable disciplines like football, basketball, and kho kho, to the monumental task of leveling the playfields, the foundation is reshaping the future of sports in education.
In many ways, this is an initiative that should have been undertaken by a government agency long ago. Now, the SCF, a registered NGO, has already reached 380 schools across the State, including some in Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh, and is now setting its sights on impacting 1,000 schools and 10 lakh children. “Funding remains a major hurdle, with Microsoft chipping in with some support. But we are determined to reach our goal,” says 71-year-old Sai Baba.
“The whole objective is to promote sports culture with emphasis on girl students. That is why we have been focussing on more girl schools and especially those in slum areas where not many show any kind of interest,” he adds.
The programme, he explains, follows a comprehensive approach, where the conditions of a school are documented on the day the work begins, and progress is tracked until completion. A critical review is then conducted afterwards. “The best part is that many headmasters and principals of many of these schools where we have taken up this programme are happy with the increasing attendance of students. This is on record and they acknowledge it because of the students’ interest in sports. This is a major morale-booster for us,” he says.
Sai Baba, a recipient of many national and international awards, expresses his eagerness to collaborate with any organisation to expand the initiative on a larger scale for the benefit of deserving and underprivileged children.
Published – February 11, 2025 02:30 am IST
