Vadodara, June 30: With Mumbai-based corporate house Ashok Piramal and Union Minister Priyaranjan Dasmunshi pitching in to help sponsor their participation in 17th Kanga Cup, an annual under-15 tournament in Australia, city-based Providence Football Club has found support in unexpected quarters.

The club which approached many industries in State for sponsorship was let down as no one seemed to show interest in game and decided to evolve a self sustainable model. Sadanand Satyajit who has been associated with club for long said, “We approached industries in State so they could sponsor team’s tickets but nobody showed interest as this sport has not yet come out of cricket’s shadow in our country.”

Refusing to let the students’ families foot the air fare and other expenses, the club managers said that it was timely help from the Union minister, also the All India Football Federation president, and Ashok Piramal Group which intends to get into football management, that they can afford the tickets and go to Canberra for the event.

Hardev Jadeja, who heads the Gujarat Football Association as well as the chef de mission with the young team that will travel to Australia said, “Nobody in the wildest dreams could have thought that a football team from Gujarat will get such a prestigious fellowship. Had it been Kerala, Bengal or Goa I wouldn’t have been surprised but this is a proud moment for the game in Gujarat and Baroda.’’

The team will be captained by Akshay Mall of Baroda High School, while rest of the players are students at Tejas Schol, Rosary School, IPCL School, Don Bosco School and Vidyani School.