Manoj Kumar Mahesh was around 12 years old when he first started playing football. He recalls not liking the sport in the beginning, because he didn’t quite enjoy great control with the ball. But the Bengaluru-based kid decided to overcome his lack of skill with the game, and began training rigorously.

(From left) Navnita Veeregowda, Arbaz Pasha, Manoj Kumar Mahesh and Harshitha Turaganoor Raju, who have qualified for the Street Football World Festival to be held in June in Lyon, France