Vidyut had their school football tournament yesterday. He was the captain of one of the teams. His team ended up winning the gold medal in this small tourney. Big deal for the seven year old !
He was looking forward to this for the past week through the assessments. Friday evening he started pestering everyone in the house to be present. Asked me a few times about my Saturday morning call and whether I would be done before the match starts(yes I know work calls on weekends are not fun but it is self-inflicted - so no sympathies expected). Ensured his mother and grandmother plan their cooking and other household chores to be completed before everyone leaves.
The matches were not much to write home about. You don't expect much when a bunch of 7 year olds are put on a football field. There was lots of nervous energy before the match commenced. Everyone running and shouting wildly every time a new class mate came in.
The game looked more like rugby than football - everyone except the goalies hovering around the place where the ball is. Cloud of dust and frantic pushing and kicking with occasional burst of one or two players when they find a path through this melee and get to run a little ahead.
Scoring seems almost impossible even though the goalies did not look very convincing or interested in blocking. So when goals are scored, it comes out of the blue and is an event. Vidyut's team scored in all their games and surprisingly did not concede any even though their goalie was a puny kid who could hardly kick or block any shot.
More than the results and actual game, what was interesting were the emotions running through the kids. Vidyut was eager and excited to get on with the game. Once the game started, he seemed very agitated during the breaks. Adrenalin rush was causing his hands to shake - had to force him have water and relax. There were others who also seemed angry. Couple of kids broke down at the end of their games as their teams had lost. The kids themselves played well but did not get enough support from their teams.
After the matches, he was really tired and hungry but refused to have food that we had carried for him. Several minutes of cajoling and patient responses to angry tantrums, he cooled down a bit and put a few spoons of pulao into his mouth. Played a few of his favourite songs to change his mood as well (Rowdy baby, Pettai parak - current favs).
Soon after reaching home, he got his picture taken with the medal and certificate, called his grandmother and asked her to get onto WhatsApp to see the pictures.
Tired, he fell asleep soon after.
Vidyut really enjoyed the games. Wants to play more games. While he won these, the emotional lows of losing is something he needs to handle too.
Wondered if this aspect has passed through some genes to him from me. I have known to loose my cool on the football pitch. An otherwise soft spoken and patient person, I have exploded on the football field a few times for no apparent reason.
The intensely physical game brings out the beast I guess.
He was looking forward to this for the past week through the assessments. Friday evening he started pestering everyone in the house to be present. Asked me a few times about my Saturday morning call and whether I would be done before the match starts(yes I know work calls on weekends are not fun but it is self-inflicted - so no sympathies expected). Ensured his mother and grandmother plan their cooking and other household chores to be completed before everyone leaves.
The matches were not much to write home about. You don't expect much when a bunch of 7 year olds are put on a football field. There was lots of nervous energy before the match commenced. Everyone running and shouting wildly every time a new class mate came in.
The game looked more like rugby than football - everyone except the goalies hovering around the place where the ball is. Cloud of dust and frantic pushing and kicking with occasional burst of one or two players when they find a path through this melee and get to run a little ahead.
Scoring seems almost impossible even though the goalies did not look very convincing or interested in blocking. So when goals are scored, it comes out of the blue and is an event. Vidyut's team scored in all their games and surprisingly did not concede any even though their goalie was a puny kid who could hardly kick or block any shot.
More than the results and actual game, what was interesting were the emotions running through the kids. Vidyut was eager and excited to get on with the game. Once the game started, he seemed very agitated during the breaks. Adrenalin rush was causing his hands to shake - had to force him have water and relax. There were others who also seemed angry. Couple of kids broke down at the end of their games as their teams had lost. The kids themselves played well but did not get enough support from their teams.
After the matches, he was really tired and hungry but refused to have food that we had carried for him. Several minutes of cajoling and patient responses to angry tantrums, he cooled down a bit and put a few spoons of pulao into his mouth. Played a few of his favourite songs to change his mood as well (Rowdy baby, Pettai parak - current favs).
Soon after reaching home, he got his picture taken with the medal and certificate, called his grandmother and asked her to get onto WhatsApp to see the pictures.
Tired, he fell asleep soon after.
Vidyut really enjoyed the games. Wants to play more games. While he won these, the emotional lows of losing is something he needs to handle too.
Wondered if this aspect has passed through some genes to him from me. I have known to loose my cool on the football pitch. An otherwise soft spoken and patient person, I have exploded on the football field a few times for no apparent reason.
The intensely physical game brings out the beast I guess.
