Unstoppable Together: How Yogesh Patil Empowers Kids Through Football

On a dusty ground tucked away in the corner of the city, dreams begin to breathe. It’s not the sight of floodlights or grand stadiums, but the laughter, sweat and determination of children chasing a ball. At the center of all this is Yogesh Patil, a footballer who turned his passion into something bigger than medals. For him, football became a tool to shape lives.

His journey started in November 2005 when he was just a boy in 5th standard, stepping into his first ever tournament, the Phoenix Public Cup. That first match would light a fire that kept growing. By 2007 he was already representing Karnataka State Football Team in Mumbai. A few years later, between 2013 and 2015, he carried the title of University Blue for three consecutive years, something rare for any young athlete. In 2015, Gogte College of Commerce honored him as Best Sportsman.

But Yogesh never let trophies define him. He noticed children with raw talent around him, some with fire in their eyes but no shoes to play with, no jerseys to wear. Girls faced an even higher wall, often told the ground was not their place. That was when Yogesh decided his story would not end with his own achievements but with giving courage to others.

Through CSRF, a club under “Mission We Care CSR Foundation,” he started mentoring and sponsoring kids. Many times he personally bought kits, footballs, and gear for children who couldn’t afford them. He says, “Talent should never be killed due to lack of resources.” To him, the real joy is when a child steps on the field with confidence.

His fight for girls in sports has been the toughest. In villages and towns, parents hesitate, questioning why their daughters should play football. Yogesh kept telling them one thing: “A girl with a football at her feet is a girl with power in her heart.” Slowly, girls began to join his training. Today, many of them wear jerseys proudly, and some are already stepping up into district and state teams.

Through Mission We Care CSR Foundation, he mentors underprivileged kids, buys their gear, and fights stereotypes—especially for girls in football. His motto “Unstoppable Together” isn’t just about the game, but about life itself.

Now, through CSRF – We Care CSR Foundation, Yogesh is working to expand this noble cause, reaching out to more children who deserve a chance to dream and grow through sports. He believes that sports not only sharpen the brain and build character but also nurture discipline, resilience, and teamwork—values that shape good human beings and, ultimately, contribute to nation building.

Every evening practice session is more than a game. It’s about discipline, teamwork, and courage. For Yogesh Patil, football is his way of saying that every child, boy or girl, deserves a chance to dream. His motto captures it perfectly: “Unstoppable Together.”

Because real victories are not medals on a shelf, but dreams that finally learn how to run free.