Mahilpur Footballers Launch “Footballer Welfare

Hoshiarpur/Daljeet Ajnoha /June 29 : During a recent world-class football festival held in Mahilpur long regarded as a nursery and fertile ground for the sport senior former players and local football enthusiasts met to form a new welfare body in memory of the late Olympian Jarnail Singh. The meeting received robust support from players and fans living abroad.
Remembering the great Punjabi footballers who helped take the sport to the Olympic stage, and especially honoring the unmatched achievements of the late Jarnail Singh, the gathering announced the formation of the “Footballer Welfare Society, Mahilpur” under the patronage of Arjuna Awardee Gurdev Singh Gill and Sardar Inder Singh. The attendees discussed serious plans to inspire the next generation and to develop players capable of representing the country at national and international levels.
Veteran players who had made their names in football shared personal experiences and urged a return to the traditions established by Jarnail Singh and other pioneers. They voiced deep concern about the decline in sports participation and standards, and called for committed efforts by regional organizations to revive competitive levels. The absence of philanthropic individuals like educationist and diligent administrator Principal Harbhajan Singh was lamented, and his special contributions to football and education were honored.
The society’s primary aims are to protect young footballers from drug abuse and other social ills, and to prepare them to achieve recognition at national and international levels while becoming responsible citizens. Several expatriate community members who joined the meeting by phone expressed concern about social decline and pledged full support — with time, effort, and funds — for the society’s reform efforts.
Coach Bandna Singh Halluwal was appointed president of the society. Other office-bearers named were senior vice-president Yashpal Jassi (Mahilpur), vice-president Gurdial Singh Bains, while Narinder Singh Jian and Daljit Singh Bittu were entrusted with financial responsibilities to ensure smooth functioning. Rights to appoint overseas members and other office-bearers were delegated to these officers and the society’s esteemed patrons, including Darshan Singh Mazara Dhingrania, Takdir Singh Bharta, Sandeep Saini, SP Paramjeet Singh Sarhala Kalan, and Madan Lal Khaiddar.
It was decided that the society’s monthly meetings will be held in rotation in villages associated with football, enabling young players to meet veteran stars and benefit from their experience. These meetings will take place on the last Sunday evening of every month — a decision taken unanimously.
All attendees appealed to fellow villagers at home and abroad to offer valuable suggestions and active support to make the society a success. Members also noted that emergency meetings may be convened when necessary to address pressing issues and find solutions.
Notable participants at the meeting included Jagraj Singh Kharar, Gurminder Singh Bihran, Satprakash (Canadian), Ved Prakash Sarangwal, Harinder Singh Khabra, Gurtej Singh Sabi Marula, Jasveer Singh Kaindowal, Talvinder Singh Heer (Nangal Khilarian), Parminder Singh Bharta, Parveen Kumar Channathu (Brahmana), Sarvjeet Singh Chandeli, Balveer Singh Mahilpur, Sukhdev Singh Sangha Langheri, Tarsem Bhaji Mahilpur, Manjinder Singh Mahilpur, Daljit Singh Baghaura, and other well-known footballers and sports enthusiasts from various villages in the region.