Mumbai, September 5, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Brazilian football legend and two-time FIFA World Cup winner Cafu spent Saturday with young underprivileged girls in Mumbai, joining them on the football field and encouraging them to pursue their dreams through sport and education.
Cafu, who captained Brazil to the 2002 FIFA World Cup title and was part of the squad that won the tournament in 1994, visited the Mumbai-based Dreaming in Slums Foundation. He played a friendly game with the girls, offered guidance and interacted with the young footballers during the session.
The Foundation works with girls aged six to 16 from disadvantaged urban communities, using football to build confidence, life skills and opportunities.
Cafu stressed the importance of combining education with sport, saying athletics can serve as a powerful tool for social inclusion and help children build a better future.
“Sport is one of the greatest tools of social inclusion in the world. Sport gives you a future, education and socialisation, and it gives you a lot of respect too,” he said.
The former Brazil captain also praised the Foundation and said he was touched by the warmth shown by the children, many of whom were too young to have watched him play during his illustrious career.
Cafu also said India has significant potential in football, pointing to growing investment in sport and the importance of bringing in professional expertise.
Among the girls, Sonali Yadav said meeting Cafu had left a lasting impression. Coming from a middle-class family, she said her father works as an auto driver and her mother is a homemaker.
Recalling Cafu’s advice, Sonali said his message was simple: “never give up”. She said his own experience of facing rejection before achieving success had inspired her to continue working towards her goal of representing India at national and international levels.
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