Jawed Akhtar/Kolkata

Canvassing support for his party – the Trinamool Congress Party (TMC) in the forthcoming Assembly elections in West Bengal, Member of the Lok Sabha and former cricketer Yusuf Pathan stumbled upon a human story of neglect of sporting talents in the state.

He shared the video of Samir Sardar, a local football coach from Shaktipur, on his social media, exposing the dark reality of Bengal's sports world.

Yusuf Pathan was on his way to an election rally in Shaktipur, Beldanga, when he met local football coach Sameer Sardar at Ramnagar Ghat. Sameer asked Pathan to visit his house. Seeing Sardar’s simplicity, Yusuf Pathan couldn't resist the offer.

Samir lived with his family in a hut. Yusuf sat on the floor and ate rice and the famous Bengali dish "sukto" with great relish. However, he was shocked to see the entire house filled with glittering trophies and medals.

The sight was both heartwarming and disturbing.

The trophies and medals bore testimony to the great talent that Sameer had in the prime of his youth. Pathan also felt sad to see that the walls of the house were barely standing and were in bad shape.

The awards displayed on his shelves could have adorned a palace. But alas, they are gathering dust under a roof that could collapse at any moment.

Samir Sardar's story is the biggest proof of the failure of India's sports system. There is no dearth of talent in our villages. What is lacking is the right platform and government support. Samir has dedicated his entire life to football. He still teaches the nuances of football to young children in rural Bengal.

He is grooming future stars. But the question is, what is his own future? What value do those gold and silver medals hold for an athlete struggling to meet basic needs?

Yusuf Pathan posted a video praising Sameer Sardar, but people are now expecting the MP to change the living conditions of this sports person. Locals are discussing whether the MP will simply eat and leave, or whether he will do something for Sameer's coaching institute.

The MP wrote in his post that he listened to the problems of his neighbours and spent time with their families. But sports lovers say that the era of listening to problems is over. Now, solutions are needed.

Coaches like Sameer Sardar don't just need sympathy. They need a respectable life and a modern coaching centre so they can develop more players.

All India Football Federation records show that Samir Sardar was associated with prestigious clubs like the Bengal Football Academy.

He is a seasoned player whose passion remains intact. He is one of the thousands of unsung heroes who win medals at the district and state levels but fade into obscurity after retirement. In a state like Bengal, where football is considered a religion, such a fate befalling a legendary coach is shameful.

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Yusuf Pathan's visit has sparked a major debate. Will our system care about these players? Will they ever achieve the status they deserve? Or will some prominent leader come, pose for a photo, and then leave? Sameer Sardar needs help today.