Twenty five girls, presently training at the Khalsa College Ground, display loads of enthusiasm as they vie for coveted spots under the watchful eyes of coaches Johnny Barretto (Bombay Customs), Francis Fernandes (Central Railway) and Mohd Shabbir (Milan Sports Club).

The coaches were bowled over by the turn out on the opening day (July 12). As many as 55 girls turned up -- their enthusiasm probably fired up by the World Cup action in France which had the attention of a majority of mankind.

The girls soon got down to inculcating the basics of the sport -- not that the skills were new, as many a slight-footed damsel proved.

And to supplement the physical nuances of the sport, the young ladies set their attention to the blackboard where tactics and strategy were given dueattention.

The camp, held in the midst of the monsoon, presents difficult ground conditions. But the girls do not flinch from the challenge, says Gazala Khan, among the senior players and a physical director at Rajeha College, Santacruz.

Gazala, who attended the National camp last year, explains: "Despite the slippery underfoot conditions, there is no sign of worry among the girls." Born to a football-loving family, she learned the game in good time.

Her father, Rashid Khan, is a former Tatas and Salgaocar player while her uncle Hafiz Khan was also a well-known player in Mumbai.

A Brazil fan, Gazala continues: "The team is practicing well, but we are missing three good players who have not been released by their offices."

Gazala opines: "Football is still not really accepted as a women's sport in Mumbai as it is in Manipur, Goa, Bengal and Kerala."

Coach Barretto, a former Maharashtra player, commends the varied playing qualities of the stopper-back: "Gazala is comfortable at all positions, be itmidfield or defence."

A somewhat telling reflection on the rather low profile of the women's version of the `beautiful game' is the fact that the girls, despite their passion for playing the sport, are unaware that United States are the current World women's champions.

But the girls have an aptitude for the finer points of the game. "They show attention to the basics and some of the girls are technically very sound, showing a remarkable ability to adjust," said Hemlata Singh Thakur, a player who started off as an athlete.

"This year I hope to get into the National camp like Gajju (Gazala)," Hemlata enthuses. She considers Gazala, Renata Fernandes, Shewlete, Mansi, Laveena, Rupa and Hardeep Kaur among the girls with good prospects of selection.

"The camp is good. The coaches teach us to get accustomed to the wet ground," said the girl who was supported by her sports teacher, Hardeep Singh (Khalsa College) and Pinto (St Joseph, Vikhroli) in pursuing football.

In fact, football has inspired some womenhockey players. Akshay Shetty, a trainee at Sports Authority of India (SAI), also attends the camp. Coach Fernandes, a former junior football international, sees a potential soccer player in Akshay. He explains: "She can control and release the ball at the right time."

Shy and soft-spoken, Akshay is a different proposition on the pitch. She wields the stick as left-half but prefers the role of striker in her footballing pursuit. Not short of strength, developed by playing a sport similar in physical demands, Akshay says: "We in the hostel practice every morning and evening, so strength and stamina are not a problem."

Her hockey idols range from Dhanraj Pillay, Subbiah, Oliver Domke (Germany), Shahbaz Ahmed (Pakistan). But in football it's Ronaldo first and last.

Radhika Raj, a tenth standard student of Our Lady of Remedy (OLR), appreciates the different styles and techniques imparted at the camp. Her favourite is French mid-fielder Zinedine Zidane and Iranian Karim Bagheri.

As are desi stars IMVijayan, Bruno Coutinho, Bhaichung Bhutia -- players who, according to her, are bound to influence Indian soccer positively.

Hardeep Kaur, another hockey player, handles the difficult task of goalkeeping. But she can adjust to field play as well. The prospect of keeping goal pleases Hardeep, something quite different at playing right-winger on the hockey pitch.

It's clear Hardeep enjoys football immensely. "You can very well see why football is the most popular game in the world. I just can't restrain myself from not playing it whenever I have the chance," she says.