Pratik Shinde, 21, who became the youngest player ever to bag a foreign contract six years ago, and then played for the Indian Soccer League for Pune City at 19, has started the Pratik Shinde Football Academy on the premises of the NG Acharya & DK Marathe College. Pic/Suresh Karkera

"Seeing me serves as an inspiration. I may have worked like a dog to get where I have, but if I have done it, anyone can," says footballer Pratik Shinde. His is a rags to riches story.