Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Nov 28:

Reshma Begum (31) well-known former footballer from Odisha has been appointed as the football Coach in Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS).

She was given appointment after Dr. Achyuta Samanta, Founder, KIIT and KISS came to know about her plight and wanted to extend help. In the 12 years of her football career which began in 1999, Reshma was looked up as a rising football star until personal setbacks put a full-stop on her career. Now, the footballer is struggling to eke out a living.

She made a debut in the national level in the 5th National Games held at Manipur in February 1999. She then went on to play Senior Women’s Championship, Federation Cup, and Women’s Football Tournament in Singapore, to name a just few.

All was going well for Reshma when back to back personal tragedies changed her life. She lost her elder sister to illness and she herself developed a medical complication for which she had to undergo a surgery. Her diabetic father, who sold eggs, had to seek help of locals for Reshma’s treatment. Now the father is old and Reshma had been moving from pillar to post for her livelihood without any help. Getting appointment in KISS, Reshma thanked Dr. Samanta for his support to a poor girl. I'll try to produce more footballers from KISS by utilising my talent, she said.

Expressing his happiness, Dr. Samanta said, “I am glad that she will be a part of KISS and will produce more Reshma Begums like her”.