Everyone is hyped about Euro 2008, discussing the exuberant gameplay of the Turks and the Russians and wondering how the unimpressive Germans and typically hapless Spaniards reach the final. My schoolmates are still ruing over the fact that our team, Batch-99 have conspiringly been prevented to advance to the semi-finals of Gregorian Football Tournament 2008. But for the last couple of days, all I had in mind was that I was going to take part in Batch-99's last league match against Batch-95. Though it'll sound unbelievable to many, but at the age of 26, this was going to be my first major appearance in any kind of competitive sports, let alone football.
Before this, all I ever did was cheering my team from the sideline. Once in class 6, I was sent to play as a defender and was immediately (may be after 3 minutes) substituted after I made a mess of receiving a regulatory backpass and gave away a corner for that. In class 7, I was used as a substitute fielder once in a cricket match and cost my team heavily in defeat by dropping 3 simple catches. This was all I could contribute in any sports competition during my student life. At that time I was terribly fat and had no knack for moving or running at all. So my senior years in school saw me as a spinner and occasional big hitter with a lousy pair of hands in friendly cricket matches only.
More than a decade had passed from that time and I lost a couple of pounds here and there while I grew up. I gave up my addiction to fast food and soft drinks and the strenuous BUET life made me strong both physically and mentally. During my last year in BUET, I participated in football matches between friends, bunking classes a number of times. Since my CSE-mates did not know of my disastrous sports background I could easily get to play there. Playing there I finally understood a couple of basics about "the beautiful game" and it helped my stamina tremendously. I still own a pot-belly (result of 8-hour-a-day desk job), but it's no way as round as it used to be and now I can run a bit in the field also.
Our team, Batch-99 had already lost both their matches by 2-1. Let me not go through the long saga of controversy, bad-refereeing and bad-luck that caused our advancement to semi-finals of ongoing Gregorian Football Tournament. Yesterday (June 27, 2008, Friday) was our last group match against Batch-95. At first, our friends were very hot-tempered and everyone was speculating about giving walk-over or losing by a huge margin purposely. Finally, we agreed of fielding our second team, play with a free mind and accept whatever result we could achieve. I always had a deep desire to represent my batch in my school in any kind of sports. I repeatedly requested our captain and my very good friend Abir, and he agreed to give me a chance in the match.
Yesterday was also Shantu Mama's (youngest uncle from my mother's side) first death anniversary. This made my plans a bit tough. But I could duly take part in the ceremony and very tactfully managed to prevent anyone from serving me a large helping of Tehari as I didn't want to play in a heavy stomach. I reached Saint Gregory's at 3:15 and roamed around in the playground a bit. I didn't have my own jersey or shorts, so couldn't make the starting line up. At the half-time break after 25 minutes we were leading 1-0, thanks to a crafty chip by Abir over the goalkeeper's head. Borrowing shorts from Kana Abir and jersey from Kawsar, I finally joined the center of action, replacing Shawon (nicknamed C-Vit among friends) as the left back.
The time I spent in the middle of the pitch was one of the best moments I passed this year. I saw Abir score a hat-trick, a beautiful set play from Abir to Kawsar resulting in another goal, and the funniest of all, our own players protesting to the referee after being awarded a goal for a probable handball by Kana Abir. Playing with good humor and complete disregard of the consequences, we had a thrashing 5-1 win over Batch-95, who used to be considered as one of the most formidable sports team during my school life. Regarding my personal contribution, I think I did pretty well as per my own and our team's expectations. I blocked a couple of shots, stole the ball once to thwart a attack before forming and most of all provided sound marking to the opponents' right forward. So fed up with my game he was, in the middle of the pitch he told me, "Brother, you haven't played yourself and haven't let me play either". With a broad grin in my face I confessed to him at that very moment that I was a complete newbie and just came in to have some fun in the middle. The fun I had playing for the whole second half, was not dented at all by the blow I received near the right eye, due to coming in the line of a strong shot by the opponent. My glasses flew off my nose that the player was very sympathetic in finding that for me. Abir was concerned and wanted to sub me, but I was having too much fun in the middle. So I denied and left the field a couple of minutes later along with the whole team. It was a fitting end to the tournament for us, since we secured the second place in group after Batch-97 lost to Batch-82 in the next match.
I had spent twelve years concentrating on nothing else but study. In my BUET life I had come to contact with Shabuj Bhai and my thrive for performing in stage fulfilled during CSE Day 2004 and 2007. The thirst for performing in a competitive stage in sports was left to be quenched and now I've finally had the opportunity to show everyone (also myself) that I can do it to some (though very limited) state also. After the beautiful match a day ago, now I'm sitting in front of my home desktop, blogging, with a slightly purple eye, looking forward to further challenges in sports and music, whenever I get a chance.
Before this, all I ever did was cheering my team from the sideline. Once in class 6, I was sent to play as a defender and was immediately (may be after 3 minutes) substituted after I made a mess of receiving a regulatory backpass and gave away a corner for that. In class 7, I was used as a substitute fielder once in a cricket match and cost my team heavily in defeat by dropping 3 simple catches. This was all I could contribute in any sports competition during my student life. At that time I was terribly fat and had no knack for moving or running at all. So my senior years in school saw me as a spinner and occasional big hitter with a lousy pair of hands in friendly cricket matches only.
More than a decade had passed from that time and I lost a couple of pounds here and there while I grew up. I gave up my addiction to fast food and soft drinks and the strenuous BUET life made me strong both physically and mentally. During my last year in BUET, I participated in football matches between friends, bunking classes a number of times. Since my CSE-mates did not know of my disastrous sports background I could easily get to play there. Playing there I finally understood a couple of basics about "the beautiful game" and it helped my stamina tremendously. I still own a pot-belly (result of 8-hour-a-day desk job), but it's no way as round as it used to be and now I can run a bit in the field also.
Our team, Batch-99 had already lost both their matches by 2-1. Let me not go through the long saga of controversy, bad-refereeing and bad-luck that caused our advancement to semi-finals of ongoing Gregorian Football Tournament. Yesterday (June 27, 2008, Friday) was our last group match against Batch-95. At first, our friends were very hot-tempered and everyone was speculating about giving walk-over or losing by a huge margin purposely. Finally, we agreed of fielding our second team, play with a free mind and accept whatever result we could achieve. I always had a deep desire to represent my batch in my school in any kind of sports. I repeatedly requested our captain and my very good friend Abir, and he agreed to give me a chance in the match.
Yesterday was also Shantu Mama's (youngest uncle from my mother's side) first death anniversary. This made my plans a bit tough. But I could duly take part in the ceremony and very tactfully managed to prevent anyone from serving me a large helping of Tehari as I didn't want to play in a heavy stomach. I reached Saint Gregory's at 3:15 and roamed around in the playground a bit. I didn't have my own jersey or shorts, so couldn't make the starting line up. At the half-time break after 25 minutes we were leading 1-0, thanks to a crafty chip by Abir over the goalkeeper's head. Borrowing shorts from Kana Abir and jersey from Kawsar, I finally joined the center of action, replacing Shawon (nicknamed C-Vit among friends) as the left back.
The time I spent in the middle of the pitch was one of the best moments I passed this year. I saw Abir score a hat-trick, a beautiful set play from Abir to Kawsar resulting in another goal, and the funniest of all, our own players protesting to the referee after being awarded a goal for a probable handball by Kana Abir. Playing with good humor and complete disregard of the consequences, we had a thrashing 5-1 win over Batch-95, who used to be considered as one of the most formidable sports team during my school life. Regarding my personal contribution, I think I did pretty well as per my own and our team's expectations. I blocked a couple of shots, stole the ball once to thwart a attack before forming and most of all provided sound marking to the opponents' right forward. So fed up with my game he was, in the middle of the pitch he told me, "Brother, you haven't played yourself and haven't let me play either". With a broad grin in my face I confessed to him at that very moment that I was a complete newbie and just came in to have some fun in the middle. The fun I had playing for the whole second half, was not dented at all by the blow I received near the right eye, due to coming in the line of a strong shot by the opponent. My glasses flew off my nose that the player was very sympathetic in finding that for me. Abir was concerned and wanted to sub me, but I was having too much fun in the middle. So I denied and left the field a couple of minutes later along with the whole team. It was a fitting end to the tournament for us, since we secured the second place in group after Batch-97 lost to Batch-82 in the next match.
I had spent twelve years concentrating on nothing else but study. In my BUET life I had come to contact with Shabuj Bhai and my thrive for performing in stage fulfilled during CSE Day 2004 and 2007. The thirst for performing in a competitive stage in sports was left to be quenched and now I've finally had the opportunity to show everyone (also myself) that I can do it to some (though very limited) state also. After the beautiful match a day ago, now I'm sitting in front of my home desktop, blogging, with a slightly purple eye, looking forward to further challenges in sports and music, whenever I get a chance.
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