National Sports Day: Odisha’s visually-impaired international footballer now battles acute poverty

At a time when the whole country is celebrating National Sports Day today, many eminent players of national and international repute are leading a miserable life due to the alleged sheer apathy of the administration.

Take the case of Samara Nandibadi from Nuagaon village under Padmapur block in Koraput district. Though the Odisha government is boasting of providing support to bolster the sportspersons in the State, Samara’s case tells a different tale altogether.

Samara was once part of the national visually-impaired football team. The Indian team had once put up a dominating display against Japan and the tribal footballer was then part of the national team. He had played an important role in the memorable victory.

Apart from Odisha, the international footballer has played in different teams of Kolkata, Kerala, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh in different competitions.

Despite being a footballer of national and international repute, Samara now battles acute poverty. Though he has given so much to the game, he has not received anything in return from the game. Without having any means to earn his livelihood, the visually-impaired footballer is now leading a miserable life in his dilapidated thatched house.

“It has become very difficult to earn my livelihood despite playing national and international level football. I am still dependent on my poor and helpless parents for my sustenance. I urge the administration to extend its helping hand,” said Samara.