Child prodigy from eastern India headed to Bayern Munich for training

Chandan Nayak is the only child to be selected from Odisha for the training

BHUBANESWAR: Defying all odds, an 11-year-old football prodigy from a slum in Bhubaneswar city of India's eastern Odisha state is all set to train with experts at Germany's iconic soccer club Bayern Munich.

Chandan Nayak has been an avid soccer player since early days of his life and has always wanted to pursue it professionally. Nayak got a step closer to his dream when he was selected for an all-expenses-paid two-month training at Bayern Munich Football Club.

Nayak was discovered by a football coach by chance and ever since his mentors have worked closely with the young one to hone his talent.

"I love soccer. When I was younger I once went and sat in a stadium when a man named Srinivas Mishra asked me to play with his students as they were short of a player. He liked my game and asked me to stay in his team and ever since then I have been on the same team," said Nayak on Monday (August 22).

Nayak was the only child to be selected from Odisha for the training. Though he was underage for the trials, the judges gave him a chance to show his skills after requests from his coach. Once Nayak's trial was over, the judges just couldn't say no.

Everyday Nayak puts on his Messi jersey and heads out of his thatched house for training sessions with his coach Jayadev Mahapatra.

Mahapatra has played a crucial role in Nayak's life. Nayak's mother makes ends meet by working as a maid and cannot afford to pay for her son's shoes or uniform. Mahapatra has not only nurtured Nayak's talent but has also ensured that nothing comes in the way of the prodigy's dream run.

"I believe this boy is talented, gifted. We spotted him when he was very young and he has been training with us for the last three to four years and in last one year we have taken him through some rigorous training, used modules which we see in international clubs and it has paid us rich dividends," said Mahapatra.

Mahapatra urged the government to provide the requisite support to Nayak.

"Training that he receives there is beyond comparison to what we can give him in India. So as a(n) opportunity I feel it's a huge thing. He will create lot of expectation and hope for the slum kids who play soccer today," added the proud coach.

Nayak hopes to play for India one day and change the fortunes of his family.