The taste of football grew with me in the 5 minute breaks which I enjoyed with my school mates. The rubber ball was small enough to ignite our passion leading to leave cricket and join 'the beautiful game'. The cash scam that hit cricket burned my idol Azharuddin and left an indelible mark which is still refusing to go. I find many compatriots who have made the same decision. Shihab, whom I met while playing for the lower courts in the Inter Bar Association Tournament is a living example.
I owe Sreekumar Sir, our Physical Education teacher in BVM Elamakkara for encouraging me to be a part of the team, for my uncanny ability to scoot the players and score the goals. I started as a defender owing to a natural vertical variation helping me to keep obstacles on others way. Finding that I was refusing to head any oncoming balls, he moved me into the striker position, where I started scoring goals, inspite of my shortcomings. Further I ventured into the midfield as a playmaker for my NUALS team, who have the credit of not scoring nor winning any games (till now). However I enjoyed being a frog in the well. The potholed NUALS ground provided umpteen chances to polish my skills with the ball. Most often I went nailess, which however never prevented me to leave the field as I was living with it.
At NUALS i was the coach, defender, midfielder, striker, goalkeeper and the sports secretary. I couldnt imagine anything more than that!! Thanks to all my school and college colleagues who shared my passion. I am indebted to them, for football is a team sport not to be played alone but alone.
