My Memorable First Goal in Football

Football: 1 ball, 22 players. At any given time, only one player holds the ball. The probability that one holds the ball depends on the team that one is playing against. I wasn’t a good player but used to play this sport at school. The only game I didn’t play in my 4 years at IIIT-H for my house (Aakash).

The story goes on like this. The day before the match, Arpit (captain of our house) asks me, “Avinesh, do you play football?” I was thinking, “Oh God, what happened to Aakash? It’s asking for players like me.” Well, I am not that bad at this game as I am describing. Two things you need to have to play football are an idea of the game and stamina. I play as Right Out, i.e., forward line right wing in Hockey (basic idea of the game is like football). The only difference between them is the ball is controlled with a stick in Hockey and with legs in Football. As far as stamina is concerned, not a big problem these days (participated in a 21km Half Marathon).

Match Day (Debut Match): Abhilash, one of our star players, was not feeling well. I was working in the lab when suddenly I got a message from him: “Avi, come to the football ground; we have a match.” I reached the ground pretty early. Practiced hitting the ball (it had been a long time since I touched a football). Then I realized, “Aha, not bad Avi, not bad…”

Then comes Arpit and tells me, “Bhai, thoda kicks practice karlo.” We practiced for a while.

Now comes the team meeting. Captain Kabeer and Arpit were deciding the team.

Kabeer: “Which position do you play?”

(I was thinking, “Wow, first match and he is asking me for my favorite position. That means I am in the team. Seriously, which position do I really play? Right Out? Nah, i.e., Striker in Football? Nah… First match and you ask for a striker position, i.e., his position. Not fair :P”)

Avinesh: “I can run well.” (Gosh, what kind of answer is that?)

Arpit: “Of course you can run. Then Midfielder.”

Avinesh: (Midfielder is too much for me) “Running is fine, but it should be with the ball. It’s not a 100m dash. I would prefer playing defender.”

Arpit and Kabeer: “Fine, Defender. Central Defender or Right Back?”

Avinesh: “Right Back.”

Match Starts. Aakash Vs Prithvi (Prithvi is the strongest team on paper)

Prithvi played well initially. We were getting few chances (truly speaking, the ball was on our side for the maximum time). Then suddenly our midfielder chips into their goal post. Kabeer controls the ball and hits it to the Goalkeeper. The ball deflects from the goalkeeper, and Saurav kicks the ball into the goal. Wow… 1-0, Aakash leading. Good start. After a few minutes comes the equalizer from Aman (ball curves in and dips into the top corner). 1-1. Later, Kabeer converts the controversial penalty chance for Aakash, making it 2-1. 5 more minutes to go. Prithvi house players were striking the ball into our goal. We just needed to defend our goal. Then comes the cross from Pratyush, and the ball was about to come to Aman. As I was marking him, I managed to deflect the ball, but GOAL… GOAL… GOAL…

Oh no. My first goal, and that too a SELF GOAL. That too with 5 minutes to go. If we would have won this match, we would be going into the finals without any pressure. Oh no, Aakashians would remember me as the SELF GOAL guy who shattered their dreams of entering into the finals. NO NO, what happened? Shit, shit. I shouldn’t have touched the ball. I was feeling very bad that day. First chance, and I screwed up like anything. Everyone came to me and said, “Kya baat hai, OWN GOAL…“ I never faced this situation before, as I always played at the front line in hockey. A mistake of a striker is not taken that seriously. But one mistake of a defender is a big mistake.

Anyway, it was Vayu who defeated Prithvi in the qualifying round and gave us the ticket to the finals. It was then my regret of the OWN GOAL ended. Thanks Rahul and team (Vayu) once again; my nightmare ended soon.