Sachin Tendulkar coaches kids for charity

Mumbai: It was a day that will remain forever in the memory of seven underprivileged children from the city, who got an opportunity to brush shoulders with Sachin Tendulkar on Tuesday. The kids were privately coached for a few hours by the master blaster, who explained to them the nuances of the game.

   Tendulkar, brand ambassador for the Joy of Giving Week, fulfilled his promise of conducting a half-day cricket camp with 14 corporate executives from Whirlpool, and with the seven underprivileged children from different non-profit organisations (NGOs).

   Ecstatic about getting an opportunity to step on to a cricket field with the greatest cricketer, Rohit Patil, 14, from the NGO Akanksha, said: “I actually got an opportunity to shake hands with him (Tendulkar). He taught me how to hold the bat and ball.”

   Another teenager Sheikh Alim, 16, also from Akanksha, felt it was an opportunity of a lifetime to meet the legend of cricket. “Now we know why Sachin is a star. He is well-mannered and a good human being. He told us not to get scared to make mistakes. He told us that perfection can be attained by making mistakes,” Alim said.

   The little master himself was overjoyed with the whole experience of sharing tips with the kids. “It was an incredible experience to mix with the boys. One can’t make out in a day if there is talent. But I saw a spark in all the children. When one mixes with the less fortunate, one realises the harsh realities of life. We learn not to take things for granted and appreciate finer things in life,” Tendulkar said.

Courtesy: Linah Baliga / DNA Wednesday, March 3, 2010