In one of the feel good football stories of 2016, Bayern Munich have offered the chance to 11-year-old Indian starlet Chandan Nayak to train with the club’s youth academy for the next two months.
Nayak lives Bhubaneswar, one of the most impoverished areas of India.
The 11-year-old won the chance to travel to Germany having won a local competition after showcasing his skill in a club tournament.
Quite amazingly, the youngster does not realise the magnitude of his award, unaware just how big of a name the German giants have in the world of football.
“I hope to perform better there and would bring honour for our state,” Nayak told Odisha TV.
“It is a matter of pride that Chandan has been selected to play for Bayern Munich. He was the youngest, among others who had come to the all India level competition,” his coach, Jayadev Mohapatra said.
Coming from a poor background, his journey to abroad is really a proud movement for the state.”
Nayak is considered one of the brightest prospects in the future of Indian football and is a major fan of Lionel Messi.
His mother Duhita Nayak was so not keen on the move, saying: “I want my son to bring accolades for the State. But he should return to me safely. Initially, I was reluctant to allow him to go out. But all his trainers and well-wishers persuaded me to relent.”
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