The Aspire FC Story in Viva Football MagazineIn Pune, A Football Dream Against All Odds – The Rise of Aspire FC
In a country where the crack of a cricket bat often drowns out the sound of footballs being kicked, a quiet revolution is unfolding in Pune. Aspire Football Club — once a small initiative to give young girls a chance to play — has grown into one of the city’s most inspiring sporting stories.
What started with a handful of dreamers has now become a force of over 60 players across senior and junior squads. Every weekend, when they step onto a pitch, Aspire’s girls play with fire in their hearts, proving wrong those who said football wasn’t for them.
Yet, the journey has been far from easy. “We’ve knocked on countless doors,” recalls a club official with a weary smile. “But most said the same thing — ‘Our focus is on cricket.’ It hurts, because our girls work just as hard, dream just as big.”
And still, Aspire refused to give up.
In their very first State League, they created history — finishing 5th, the highest-ever for a Pune team.
The next season, they climbed higher, finishing 3rd, just behind Krida Prabhodini.
And last season, they came within a whisker of glory, finishing 2nd — joint on points with the champions, missing out only on head-to-head.
For the girls, these numbers are more than results. They are symbols of belonging. “When we wear Aspire colours, it feels like we’re carrying every girl in Pune with us,” says Ritika, one of the team’s rising stars. “That’s why #OurKickCounts means so much. Every goal, every tackle, every pass — it’s proof that we belong.”
Behind these moments of triumph lie countless unseen sacrifices. For three years, Aspire’s coaches have worked entirely without pay, pouring in their time, energy, and love. “They’re like our second parents,” says captain Anjali. “They push us, scold us, celebrate with us — but above all, they believe in us when the world doesn’t.”
Aspire FC today invests more in women’s football than most men’s clubs in Pune, ensuring its players get proper training and exposure. The results speak loudly: most Aspire players have gone on to represent their District and State, and some have proudly worn the India jersey.
Aspire F.C has given me an identity and a place where I truly belong. On the field, I don’t just play football — I feel loved, supported, and part of a family,” says Pooja Gupta, who has donned the India colours, and comes from a background of struggle and perseverance.
In Pune’s footballing circles, Aspire has become more than a club. It is a symbol of hope. Yes, they’ve lifted trophies. But far greater, they’ve lifted dreams — showing every little girl who laces up her boots that she belongs on the field.
But passion alone cannot carry this dream forever. Aspire FC has survived on sacrifice and goodwill, with little corporate support. To take the next step — to compete with the best, to give more girls a platform, to ensure that dreams don’t fade away — they need partners who believe.
“Our girls have already shown what’s possible,” says co-founder Srikant Iyer. “Now we need sponsors and well-wishers to stand with us. Supporting Aspire isn’t just backing a football team — it’s standing behind a movement. It’s telling every young girl who dreams of football that her kick truly counts.”
Because Aspire’s story is not just about one club. It’s about rewriting the future of women’s football in India. And that future begins with one belief: #OurKickCounts.