the END of the new BEGINNING?

Its been almost a year since I touched a football. I remember the craze I had back during school days. My school timings will be from 1230 to 630 pm and there wont be a single day I will enter my class room without playing football. My school was known for football more than studies. I still feel it is the influence of my school as well as my friends back then that I inhabited this much interest in football.

That was the base for bigger things to come actually. Commitment is a strong word in my life. I've learnt if you commit yourself for anything, things automatically work. Yes, I wanted to become a professional and I worked towards it. My school had a strong football team and I played a major part in it. Before every year, there will be a selection process happening to select some 20 players out of some 100. Some of us were automatic choice as we had been representing zonal level and few even national level. The matchdays will be an experience of its own. It will be like a both sets of supporters will get permision to come to the stadium to support the respective teams and it is a huge motivation for us as players for more than 1 reason if I can recollect :P.

That was set as a base for me to achieve even bigger heights in football as I was selected to represent the under-18 level of a top league team. I never expected in the first place to be selected. I went just to try my luck and everything clicked and the joy which I got out of it was immence. These were some of my 'high' times of life. I have never felt more proud of myself at these times. I play more than study which used to be a very big turn off for my mother. I failed lots of class tests but I never cared because all I wanted was to pursue my interest. I was achieving a lot in this as I stacked up my cabinet with plenty of trophies! But all my parents wanted from me was to get good grades.

I injured myself pretty badly while playing, which has been still having effects at this time, but that has never been a block for me from playing. At one point of time I was sidelined because of an injury, but I went for physiotheraphy sessions, gym and all things that made my recovery fast just to play.

It all came to an end when I was forced to quit it because of it having too much effect on my studies. It was one feeling that I never want to experience again in life. It was like coming close to something yet so far, that kind of feeling!

When I came to chennai, I represented my college team. It was like a complete different scenerio from the football I used to play. But I was like who cares, as long as I get to kick the ball! My college didnt give any sort of support, we as a group usually gathered after college to train. I still found those times very memorable and enjoyable. It gave me an opportunity to rekind the interest which once I used to be mad. My fitness was at par eventhough it was long since I played but I felt a little rusty as the conditions were different. We went together for lots of tournament, eventhough didnt win it but had loads of fun which was our primary goal. JETS tournament was something I would like to forget though. That was when I broke my leg and had an operation. That was one bad time of my life as I was bedridden for almost the entire semester! I never thought I would play football again in my life but once again I recovered. How much ever I get hit, there is some driving force in me which brings me back to normal and this mainly is due to the love I have in this sport. That was though the last competitive match I played and ever since after that I just have my football and juggle inside my room. The only game I played was to juggle as many times as possible beating my own record.(the record now being 240)

Now, I am completely handicapped as it has been almost a year since I touched it eeven which is a very sad story :( I miss it alot :(