Rourkela, Aug 9: Midfielder Anand Oram alias Rancho has fulfilled his mother's dream by playing the prestigious Santosh Trophy.
After Santosh Trophy, he is now playing the 132nd edition of Durand Cup for Odisha Football Club, the oldest football tournament in Asia making his mother Shuko Oram proud who fought all odds to make him an international football player.
Anand's father is bed-ridden. It was his mother's dream that Anand should be a football player.
"I was born in a poverty-stricken family. But my mother never wanted me to skip football despite all odds to meet my expenses," said Anand.
It hurts me a lot that my mother works very hard and sells vegetable for my expenses. But I am helpless. I am making her happy by working hard to establish myself as an international football player what she has dreamt, added Anand.
Baroia Oram lives in B block of Jalada area in Rourkela city with wife Shuko, daughter Chhabi, elder son Akash and younger son Anand.
Anand developed interest in football during his schooling at Jalada High School and performed well in school-level matches.
After matriculation, Anand started playing for United Club, Jalada borrowing shoes from friends due to poverty.
Anand's performance impressed coach Pitambar Bhumija who trained him as a professional player. After playing Ispat football tournament in 2016, he has never looked back. Later, he represented Odisha in Santosh Trophy team.
