Porus’ turn and tackle

As part of the Maharashtra Under-13 (U-13) football squad, 12-year-old Porus Shroff showed nimble footwork and good ball control to stand second in individual skills at the National U-13 Festival Football Tournament at Jamshedpur from January 11-24, 2009. The lad also scored four goals to help the Maharashtra team stand at the top of the points tally and win the tournament.

Porus is the younger brother of Kyra Shroff who has done exceptionally well by recently breaking into the top 100 in the ITF (International Tennis Federation) junior rankings. "My wife Gulshan and I do not want to hold back our children from any of their sporting dreams. We will encourage them as far as they require, financially and with any other support, however hard it gets,” says the siblings’ father Firdaus Shroff. Porus made it to the final 16 of the Maharashtra team from among 200 contestants from all over the state. "He sacrificed a family navjote (of his cousin), stayed back in Bombay as we were out of town, traveled to Bandra alone every day and prepared for the tournament,” Firdaus narrates. Porus has been invited by the Kenkre Football Academy, where he has been training, to travel to Barcelona in March for a U-13 international tournament, Firdaus adds. Teams from Brazil, Mexico, Spain, Arsenal, Manchester United, etc are expected to be there, affording valuable international exposure. "The costs are prohibitive but I do hope to garner some sponsorships to send him so that he understands what football at the international level is like,” the father states.

Porus Shroff (above with trophy) and in Maharashtra team colors

The national-level experience at the Tata Football Academy in Jamshedpur brought home to the youngster that football is much more than turn, tackle and shoot. "He realized how hard it is to play competitive sport, how difficult travel and being away from the comforts of home is and the importance of physical fitness,” states Firdaus. A student of Campion School, the youngster plays for his school and for Cusrow Baug.

"Porus is a naturally gifted playmaker. He accomplishes this while maintaining a high level of enthusiasm and integrity. He is a very responsible and determined individual who trains tirelessly to ensure that a task is done and done well,” writes Adib Kenkre, founder of the Kenkre Football Academy in a letter of commendation dated January 22, 2009. "He has an exceptional vision, creativity and awareness to turn the game in his team’s favor. His moral values, principles and a sheer determination to improve separate Porus from the rest of his peers. His strong persona beckons people to him because he challenges them to make good choices…I am extremely confident that Porus will be a part of many greater experiences.”