9 or 10 years back. Two weeks to go to the entrance exam.
"I won’t let you play football in this tournament", Appachan (Dad) showed a Red card to George before the kick-off of the Parish-football-tournament itself!!! He didn’t want George to get injured before the exam. We were in short of players. But he was not convinced with any of George’s arguments. His Dad was very strict.
So George was so sad and was forced to wear the dress of assistant coach and it was very easy to handle the team because half of the team was his own family members. Anthony elleppan
(George’s Uncle: Coach/Mid-fielder, Gincettean (elder cousin: Defender), Georgettan (elder cousin who grabbed that name before ‘George’ the author: Fast Forward), Raju (his brother) (Does he know the game?!! ;-): Defender. Joseph (George’s childhood friend also an awesome Goalkeeper in the parish itself)
On the tournament Day morning: George also followed the team to the ground for giving moral support. Slowly ground filled up with supporters of both the teams and other parish people which included his father's friends who knows him very well, though he doesn’t know many of them.
Match started. Since Goal keeper was strong enough so that he managed to save five sure goals in the first 10 minutes itself. The opponents were the runner's up in the last tournament. And they have three excellent players. So, we didn’t put much effort to get the first goal on 12th min. 15th min there came the second goal. So tension mounted on our side and Coach-cum-midfielder-cum-Uncle gave an action to George to play and he will take care his father. Though confused on the first moment, the pressure and the energetic atmosphere made George to replace his brother.
"ente st.thomas punnivaalaaa...kappathu (grace to St. Thomas)”.Somehow we managed not to get any more goals till the half time.
Before the beginning of second half, we’d put up a game plan. The whole plan depended on Georgetten our fastest forward and shaju, the midfielder. But the game plan was interrupted. The opponents know Georgettan very well and their game plan was to mark him with an extra defender. And Shaju was misplaced himself in between the game. So Anthony mappila himself became young at the age of 35 and took control over the ball. He gave a short pass to George who was the only unmarked person at that time.
George received the ball and moved up through the left side. And he managed to dribble the mid fielder and gave pass back to Anthony Mappila. Quickly he returned back to George where he was in position to shoot the Goal for 100% sure.
Only Goal Keeper and Goal post…. He kicked the ball a little bit forward to get the enough momentum to shoot. Suddenly the angry face of his father came to his mind. If he scored a Goal definitely his father would know somehow. He got confused. So he moved a step forward towards right.
"adi eda (shooooot)", Command from Anthony Mappila...
But George was still confused and moved further right and realized that it was a foolish move. Now, Goal keeper has a half chance to block the shot from that angle. Their defenders were flying towards George and one just reached to George. Tension mounted upon both sides. Quickly he came back to the game spirit and He didn't wait further… turned to left and an extremely low ground shot to the left corner of the post.
Goal !!! George wide spreaded his hands on the triumph but immediately closed his face and sat down. He knew that the punishments were waiting for disobeying his dad.
"Kallakeeda kutta (Well done my boy)", appreciation from the coach and he could easily read George's mind. "I'll take care of your father", he gave guarantee. At last we received two more goals happily from the Champions of the tournament and packed back to home.
George was not interested to go home immediately. He was searching for a lie to convince his dad. He realized that punishment for a lie would be severe than disobey. So he went home and planned to hide all broomsticks. Yet he didn’t. If his father failed to find any broomstick and he will take a patta-vadi (heavy stick) from somewhere nearby. It would be much worse.
As soon as he reached home he lied down on the bed and pretended to be fast asleep.
"njan venda ennu paranjittum nee kalichu alle (Did you play without my permission ?!!)", His father was a bit angry. But his voice was in a low tone only, which surprised George. Anger was only in words; not in the tone. Did Anthony mappila was able to convince him ?!!!
"Actually..." George searched for words and avoided a chance for lie. He perfectly knew that his father respect the honest reply.
"Umm...", surprised reply.
His tone can be read as this.
"Neeyathu purathu adichu kalanjirunnekil ninte katha njan kazhichenne". If you didn't score that one... you might be 'killed' by my hand now.
----Footnote----
My unit again appeared for this tournament for the second time. And they didn’t even remember the legend who scored one and only one goal for the team. May be they thought about avoiding my travel from Chennai to Thrissur and back. They might not be aware of how much I was interested in playing against the same team now.
This time too, we lost against them for 2-1. The goal was scored by Githin, a 15 year old boy, son of Anthony elleppan. Surprisingly Anthony mappila also played for the team, second time. He is in his mid 40s.
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Do you think this one was a long post? ha ha …actullay I cut to half after my editor’s expert advice. Still, if you have no other way to kill time, read the first comment, The original post.
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yetanother.softwarejunk
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Confused moment !!
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9 or 10 years back. two weeks to go to the entrance exam.
"I will not allow you to play football in this tournament", Appachan (Dad) showed a Redcard to George before starting the tournament itself !!!
"Why...Why can't I play. It is me who initiated to register the team. It is me who selected the team. moreover team is short in players even just to meet 7. I am not thinking about 2 extras ", George tried to explain the pathetic position of the team.
"Whatsoever, I dont want you to get injured. you might miss the entrance exam. are you ready to sacrifies your one year efforts?"
"Dad, what will happen if a coconut fall on my head just before the exam ?"
"it is not in our control. btb why are you walking beneath of that tree !!..."
"...What I have told I have told". Anothor Pilate !!!
Again Ammini enkil ammini. George included his brother who is not so interested in foolball. yet he was ready to play. George's elleppan (youngest brother of father, in short Uncle;-) is altime enthusiastis in footfall was ready to practice the team. However George also joined the team to practice. he is the one who can easily find loop holes in his father's laws. he didn't find any fault to play in practice session since his dad ordered just not to play in tournament.
Unluckly my cousin got injured in the practice session. you might have thinking that that team means only my family members. you are almost true. Gince, My cousin who got injured. George (his real name is George only), My another cousin; a fast forward. Antony(will appear as Anthony Mappila hear after), my Uncle, team coach. Raju,replaced George(the author); his brother. Joseph, his Friend, excellent Goal keeper in the parish. 3 more players which George don't know before the tournament itself. So from where we will find a substitute player? So team coach himself agreed to play in his mid 30s.
On the tournament Day morning, we need cheers girls for the team. pinne (even) we were in short of boys to play itself. So we arranged our all cousin(brothers) to cheer for us in the tournament. The time we reached the ground, Anthony Mappila ordered to our family members, "George(author) is going to play; but do not tell any words to his father. I'll be in trouble. so as George...".
"George..you are going to play as a substitude for your brother. let us see how the match going on. if needed you must enter", he instructed.
George was so happy that his uncle will take care the his father. But he uncle is younger than father. even if he may manage to escape, he was sure that he punishment is for sure. So he put forward a condition to all. "Do not let my father knows this. if you all tell, my father might beleive". Everybody agreed. But George don't know that his father's friends were also came there to cheer for their unit's teams(both teams). And they know George definitely though he was unaware.
Match started. Since Goal keeper was strong he managed to save five sure short in first 10 minutes itself. The opponents were runner's up in the last tournament. They have three excellent players. so they didn't put much efforts to shoot the first goal on 12th min. 15th min there comes the second goal. So Coach forced to send George as a replacement for his brother. "ente st thomas punnivaalaaa...kappathu" (grace to St. Thomas).Somehow we managed not to get further gaols till half time.
On the begining of second half we designed a game plan. Actual George being a fast forward had send to the right wing. Anthony mappila on the left wing. George on centre back defends. Shaju and Johnson touched the ball and moved towards right. and long forward pass to (Actual) George. he took over the ball and moved quickly to the centre and by the time Shaju on the right corner. A perfect pass to Shaju. He gave a cross over back to Johnson who was supposed to the left of the post. where was he. he was misplaced and in the right wing and he is almost tired. However Anthony mappila collected the pass safely. He looked for the George (actual) But he was already marked by two defenders.(Game plan interrupted). So only option was George. he give a short pass to him and moved up in the left. George managed to tribble the mid fielder and gave pass back to Anthony Mappila. Quickly he returned back to George where he was in position to shoot the Goal for 100% sure.
Only Goal Keeper and Goal post. He put the ball a step forward to get the enough momented to shoot. Suddenly angry face of his father came to his mind. If he scored a Goal definitely his father would know from some spys in the family. he is confused. So he moved a step forward towards right.
"adi eda(shooooot)", Command from Anthony Mappila... But he was still confused and moved further right and realised that it was a foolish move. now Goal keeper have a half chance to block it. Their defenderes were flying towards George and one just reached to George. He didn't wait further turned to left and a extremly low ground shoot to the left corner of the post.
Its a Goal !!! George was spread his hands and immediately closed his face and sat down. He know the punishments were waiting for disobey. (only relief was it will be less severe than a lie)."Kallakeeda kutta (Welldone my boy)", Anothony Mappila didn't put any effort pull George up (just 46 Kg at that time) and he could easily read George's mind. "I'll take care your father", he gave quarenty. At last we received two more goals happily from the Champians of the tournament. and packed back to home.
George was not interested to go home immediately. So he turned his BSA SLR to his Rosily ellemma's (Sister of his mother) home. His intension was to phone his mother to remove all broom stick from his home before he face his father. But later he stepped back from his thought. He knew that if his father failed to find any broomstick and he will take a patta-vadi (heavy sticks nearby). it would be much worser. so on the half way he returned back to home.
While he reached back home nobody was there except mother. He could hear the loud noice from his uncle's home. He guessed that it would be the description of his goal. And Anthony mappila was describing it. He was also mentioned about the delay George did to score that Goal. It was audiable; Both building are so near just 10feet distance.
George heard 'the' foot steps of his father. George was layed down on the bed and pretended sleeping.
"njan paranjittum nee kalichu alle ?!!! (you played without my permission)", His father was a bit angry. but he used only a low tone. that surprised George. Anger was only in words; not in the tone.
"yes...actually..." George searched for words and avoided a chance for lie. He perfectly knows that his father respect the honest reply.
"Umm..." His tone can be read as this.
"Neeyathu purathu adichu kalanjirunnekil ninte katha njan kazhichenne"
If you didn't score that one... you might be 'killed' by now.
കൊള്ളാം...
Thanks Jacob and Welcome to my Blog
മലയാളത്തിലും കൂടി എഴുതിക്കൂടെ ???
Umm..but not now
Man, your dad epitomizes the true football fan. I could never imagine my dad saying to me that. That spirit, that heart has true football fan in him. And you are really blessed to have him around for all your endeavors.
Deep down the heart every person of whatever age enjoys this sport, has a soft corner for this game, and as a Malayali cheers, plays and above all holds the game at the highest level in his heart. And that's why when a player like V.P Sathyan dies, his family's sorrow is our sorrow. We pray for that person. We still think Vijayan, Pappachan, Sharafali are the best. Because we love the game. And we are the true football fan.
PS: My Ex Comp recently won an Inter IT tournament. 4 out of the playing eleven were Malayalees J
Posting this comment for Dhanush by YaSJ
---What the hell this blogspot ban for?---
Yup ..he helped me a lot in all directions.
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