Arsenict™

It seems so strange when I take a peek down memory lane-a distant half a decade ago. I was just done with my 10th grade exams, thinking of what I could possibly do to have some fun in the vacation that followed. Incidentally, there was an offer put up on a chocolate flavoured additive for milk, called ‘Milo’, which I used to have regularly-just another one of those offers that lure consumers. But, it wasn’t for the offer that I had my dad get yet another pack, I just loved the taste! Little did I know that the so called ‘free gift’ that came along would make such an impact on my life! Anyway, just out of curiosity, I tore apart the seal to check for the ‘free gift’ which invariably came with it. It was a different gift every now and then. This time it was a green and white, size-3 football. I looked at it and thought to myself “What am I gonna do with this now? May be I should gift it to Ajju or just fill it up and hang it somewhere coz it really looks cute!” By the way, Ajju is my cousin who stays upstairs. He was about 8-9 years of age then.

For the week that came, I completely forgot about the ball. Boredom crept in – so much so, that the only option I was left with was to do something with the football! I then went to Ram’s place(which has a pretty spacious front yard). We had been kicking the ball all afternoon until our legs gave up on us! Ram knew a bit about football, he used to watch it on TV. His love for Manchester United made me think on similar lines. I started watching football on TV, Man-Utd looked good! Meanwhile, I started playing more often – at a small piece of vacant land close by. It was only me and Ajju at first, but people started joining in slowly. A year and half later, I realised that it was actually a footballing culture that sprung into life from nowhere!

In the meantime, I’d done something which united fans would consider the biggest sin of all – shifting loyalties to huge rivals, Arsenal! The gunners were the best footballing side I’d ever seen, and they kept getting better and more consistent with time. One man definitely caught my eye – the one who did things which nobody else could, the one who was magical on the pitch and deadly for the opposition, the one they called ‘Thierry Henry’! He was just a class above the rest. And everything that I could have imagined as attributes for a perfect footballer, I found in him. Being a gooner felt great, especially because Arsenal thoroughly entertain their fans every single time they step on the turf. My second season as an Arsenal fan was remarkable to say the least – we were the most feared team in Europe. Not only did we show character and resillience to win the league title, we also showed other teams how the game is to be played. Everything was just top-drawer, top-class and top-quality. It wasn’t just a great season for a great club, it was a record-breaking performance by a legendary side. Arsenal became the first team in about 100 years to go a whole season in the English top flight unbeaten! And considering the advancement of the game in a century and the fact that ‘The Premiership’ was arguably the best league in the world, this was some feat!

Personally, it was a boost for me as well. I wanted to play like they did-with the same swagger and fluidity. Of course, I wasn’t even close to being as sublime as they were, nonetheless it influenced the way I thought and the way I played. Today I find myself completely in love with the game although my academic commitments do not comply with me spending more time on the pitch. However, in one way or another, I now seem to be attached to the game which has changed my perception, my way of thinking, my physical abilities and more. Football has given me a meaning to life!

Kudos to “The Beautiful Game”!
Joga Bonito!(Play Beautiful!)