Bokaro deputy commissioner Mukesh Kumar has assured financial help for struggling international footballer Saphira Hssa.

Hssa hails from a poor family in Kurmidih. Her father is a contract labour at the Bokaro Steel Plant (BSL). To make ends meet, she worked as a salesgirl in a Ranchi mall. The lockdown put her family under severe economic duress.

She has performed remarkably in national and international tournaments. Hasa represented the state in the International Sub Junior Football Championship in India and the National Football Championship many times.

Hssa started her football career in the year 2005. That year she represented the Bokaro District women's soccer team.

In her first major achievement, she was part of the Indian team at the Under-13 Girls Football Championship held in Tamil Nadu in 2010. Later that year she was selected for the Indian women's football team at the Under 13 AFC Girls Football Championship held in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The Indian team won the championship by two goals.

Hssa was also on the Indian team at the Under 14 Girls Football Championship held in Colombo in 2011. In a short career spanning 5 years, she has been part of the district's football team and the district's school team on several occasions at the Inter State Women's Football Championship.

She also participated in the National Women's Football Championship for Jharkhand. Due to lack of planning and increasing family responsibilities, Hssa quit football in the year 2019 and started working as a salesgirl. The business closed due to the lockdown, leaving her unemployed.

After speaking with her, DC Kumar said, “I have recommended that the director, Department of Tourism, Art & Culture, Sports and Youth Affairs, Jharkhand to provide financial assistance to Hssa.”

The district administration will also help Hssa by providing proper education and better living standards. She said, “the way DC Kumar has helped and motivated me has been encouraging.”