New Delhi

As the FIFA World Cup captures the imagination of football fans across the globe, the excitement has reached even a small tribal village in Bihar's Seemanchal region, popularly known as India's "Football Village."

Located about five kilometres from Purnia city, Jheel Tola is unlike most villages in cricket-crazy India. Here, football is more than just a sport—it is a way of life. Pictures of global football icons such as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo adorn the walls of homes, both inside and outside, reflecting the villagers' deep passion for the game.

Jheel Tola has earned a reputation for producing footballers from almost every second household. Many local players have gone on to represent teams at the state and national levels, while several have secured government and public sector jobs through their achievements in football.

Ask any youngster in the village about his dream, and the answer is almost always the same: to become a professional footballer. Residents, however, lament the lack of adequate government support and infrastructure to nurture the sport.

The village has a population of around 13,000, of whom nearly 8,000 belong to various tribal communities. It is widely known as the "Village of Footballers" because of the extraordinary popularity of the sport among its residents.

"Football is in the blood of tribals. Just as people in Bengal are known for their love of football, we too are passionate about the game. If you check our DNA, you will find football ingrained in us. But the government does not pay enough attention to the sport," said Sonalal Tudu, a former footballer who now works with the Indian Railways.

While cricket dominates much of India, children in Jheel Tola show little interest in any sport other than football.

"The children play football with great enthusiasm. There is tremendous interest in the game here. They hardly play cricket or any other sport," said a local coach.

One player who has been training at the village ground for the past decade said football is the centre of life for local youngsters.

"Dozens of children come to play here every day. For them, nothing is more important than football. If you visit their rooms, you will find posters of Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Sunil Chhetri," he said.

According to Ajit Kumar, Secretary of the District Football Association, the enthusiasm of the village's youth is unmatched.

"The youngsters begin and end their day on the football field. In a country obsessed with cricket, Jheel Tola lives and breathes football. Every local tournament is celebrated like a festival," he said.

Several footballers from the village, including Rakesh Murmu and many others, have represented teams in national-level competitions. More than 20 young athletes from Jheel Tola have participated in state and national football championships and have subsequently secured jobs in government departments and corporate organisations through sports quotas.

For the residents of this remarkable village, football is not merely a pastime. It is an identity, a tradition passed down through generations, and a dream that continues to inspire hundreds of young players chasing glory on the field.

"The Jheel Tola ground is popular throughout Purnia. Every child here is crazy about football. The children think about football throughout the day," he quipped.

Apart from the present-day soccer stars, the people of Jheel Tola also treat former Indian soccer star Syed Abdus Samad as their hero. They idolise Samad, who had earned the name of ‘Jadugar’ (magician) in his prime. Locals claim that he emerged from the Jheel Tola football ground to make a mark at both national and international levels. He was born on December 6, 1895 and died on February 2, 1965. He began his career with Purnia Junior FC and later played for several clubs, including Mohun Bagan.

Many players who have practised at the Jheel Tola ground have gone on to play at the state and national levels. These include illustrious players like B.N. Ganguly, Abdul Latas, Mohammad Shoaib, Nepu Da and Padma Sinha.

Many soccer players from this village have played at the national level and hold high positions in government jobs and private companies. Former local player Prakash Kumar Oraon, who works as a Police Sub Inspector, said, "Football is the reason that we have reached here. Many people have made their mark playing at the Jheel Tola Ground."

Experts say that since the tribal children have a natural disposition for hard work, they are suitable for football. Also, the cost of practising football is lower than that of other sports.

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Although football was played here long before independence, its popularity declined somewhat in the later years till the local residents came forward to form Sarna Football Club in 1981. The number of football players steadily increased thereafter.