Raju and Neil Gaikwad Run Grassroots Football Academy in Vakola

Former India football captain Raju Gaikwad and his elder brother Neil Gaikwad are running a grassroots sports initiative through the Sportzella Football Academy in Vakola, Santacruz.

The academy operates from a small artificial turf located in a narrow lane in Vakola. Raju Gaikwad, 35, and Neil Gaikwad, 43, who is a former junior India footballer, established the programme to engage local youth and support the surrounding neighbourhood.

Under their initiative, the brothers provide free football training, kits, and playing opportunities to underprivileged children from the local Valmiki Samaj Panchayat settlement. The children train and play alongside other youngsters at the facility.

The brothers introduced the free training and equipment programme for local families with an appeal to the community's adults to turn away from anti-social activities in the Vakola settlement area.