G-O-A-L. Funning morning. Lush St. Francis ground adjacent to IC Church breathed a Hallelujah. Wonder whether St. Francis ever kicked a ball for a ping of joy. A Ryan International forward steered the football and defenders of Rustomjee to the right corner flag, crossed the ball to her unmarked No.11 jersey at the top of the box. She tapped in for a second goal. A Zidane would have applauded. Ryan International beat Rustomjee 2-0 in a 30 minute football game of Ladies in the morning; a goal in each half. Four defenders of Ryan relaxed through the match as their foward line pushed back Rutomjee; Ajoba's Shreya in the forward line and the middle line of Rustom found it hard to hold Ryan as coaches, parents yelled out instructions; in typical IC lingo coaches bawled: Yes-No; gadha move man, kick forward; Ajoba stood in the grass watched, intently, quietly as if a World Cup was on. The 11 a side ladies teams brought cheers to old Ajoba as he had not seen a live match on live greens for well .... years. Was tipped off by Dakhi in the morning about the football game; laced the trekking shoes, walked to the ground by 8 as the match was scheduled for 8.30; teak trees had grown sturdier, dew-beaded grass cooled the knees ... at one busy corner a four a side kids game to start; one team was short of a goal-keeper; the kids pleaded with Ajoba to be a stand-in goalie and Ajoba thought he was Thangaraj at goal of East Bengal in the 1960s. Let in two goals; Ajoba had never won a match; kids crackled as Ajoba slipped in the slush. Came the big moment; 9 a.m.; Ryan against Rustomjee; warming up Rustomjee girls were a tad scared of Ryan girls; 'bahut accha khelte hain'; the Rustomjee coach who had played for Ryan at the same ground when in school did not like it; 'play-no; yes-no', he said; the refree whistled, linesmen took their places for the game; in the 11 th minute of the first half Shreya crumbled, breathless; got up to goading of coach from the sidelines. Match over, girls became friends. Coaches patted all. 'Well played' they said with many yeses-nos. A team mate told Shreya: Eat well. A Ladies football game left smiles on the gushing grass. They were there when all walked away.
Wednesday, October 5, 2016
Ladies football
G-O-A-L. Funning morning. Lush St. Francis ground adjacent to IC Church breathed a Hallelujah. Wonder whether St. Francis ever kicked a ball for a ping of joy. A Ryan International forward steered the football and defenders of Rustomjee to the right corner flag, crossed the ball to her unmarked No.11 jersey at the top of the box. She tapped in for a second goal. A Zidane would have applauded. Ryan International beat Rustomjee 2-0 in a 30 minute football game of Ladies in the morning; a goal in each half. Four defenders of Ryan relaxed through the match as their foward line pushed back Rutomjee; Ajoba's Shreya in the forward line and the middle line of Rustom found it hard to hold Ryan as coaches, parents yelled out instructions; in typical IC lingo coaches bawled: Yes-No; gadha move man, kick forward; Ajoba stood in the grass watched, intently, quietly as if a World Cup was on. The 11 a side ladies teams brought cheers to old Ajoba as he had not seen a live match on live greens for well .... years. Was tipped off by Dakhi in the morning about the football game; laced the trekking shoes, walked to the ground by 8 as the match was scheduled for 8.30; teak trees had grown sturdier, dew-beaded grass cooled the knees ... at one busy corner a four a side kids game to start; one team was short of a goal-keeper; the kids pleaded with Ajoba to be a stand-in goalie and Ajoba thought he was Thangaraj at goal of East Bengal in the 1960s. Let in two goals; Ajoba had never won a match; kids crackled as Ajoba slipped in the slush. Came the big moment; 9 a.m.; Ryan against Rustomjee; warming up Rustomjee girls were a tad scared of Ryan girls; 'bahut accha khelte hain'; the Rustomjee coach who had played for Ryan at the same ground when in school did not like it; 'play-no; yes-no', he said; the refree whistled, linesmen took their places for the game; in the 11 th minute of the first half Shreya crumbled, breathless; got up to goading of coach from the sidelines. Match over, girls became friends. Coaches patted all. 'Well played' they said with many yeses-nos. A team mate told Shreya: Eat well. A Ladies football game left smiles on the gushing grass. They were there when all walked away.
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