Missing ISL, says an amateur football fan.

Being immune to the Ambanis' other activities, I would like to join in, to congratulate Nita Ambani, other organizers and players for embarking 'The Great Indian Football Revolution'.
Hopefully it reaches the grassroots of raw Indian talent and nourish on a long term.
Great to know that few of Indian players are being scouted by foreign clubs. I guess that's a great achievement, maybe our players always had the talent and gratefully ISL gave them a platform.
Atletico de Kolkata are the first champions of ISL, maybe befittingly the mecca of Indian football were destined to. Sadly my home team couldn't go past the semi finals, it was certainly a extremely pleasant thing to experience the hidden passion my city had for the beautiful game. More so evident on the second leg of our semi final against Sachin's Kerala Blasters. We roared our hearts out to inspire our team, we scared the damn out of our opponents unfortunately we couldn't cross the finish line, though it ended in tears for us but we knew this was our own team just like our most beloved Chennai Super Kings.

Although I have not immigrated totally from cricket, I have developed a crush towards the beautiful game of football. All my irritating doubts on few rules of the game and questions the abilities of legendary players like Luis Garcia, Del piero, Robert Pires etc. I absolutely had no idea, who they were and where they came from. I better be thankful to my friends who cleared my doubts. Much to my surprise, the crowd reconned these superstars from the far away land. In this particular match against Goa FC at Chennai I saw a whole block of the stand occupied by Arsenal fans who chanted "Pires Pires Pires"  throughout the game. I wondered if I was actually at the Emirates Stadium, home ground of Arsenal FC. With some players shaking a leg to both regional songs they became a step closer to the crowd and yes, not to forget all those marvelous goals. Evidently ISL focused much on Indian crop very much unlike the hardly noticed International Premier Tennis League, a brain child of Mahesh Bhupathi. With the exception of flying the king, Roger Federer to India, It doesn't seem likely to help India move up in the Davis Cup rankings. How many of us know that the Indian Aces won the tournament?

It's hardly been few days since the final and it's pretty hard to enjoy our evenings without some intense action. Kab ayenge voh din, phir se ?
Someday we hope will qualify for the FIFA world cup sooner than later. Undoubtedly it's a distant dream but every thing starts with little steps. And even more I hope engineers aren't churned out talented kids who could have become quality footballers. There's a world to beat, bro. 

The Experience

Finally after traumatic exams, i was so relieved to make the most out of my 12 day break from college, which actually suffocated my growth. i started receiving mails from couple of volunteering groups. i picked out Chennai Volunteer group, to volunteer for Wipro Chennai Marathon. It was good knowing my friend Aum, would accompany me to it. Unfortunately he couldn't accompany me since he was tired as he came back to Chennai from a vacation just the night before. i did receive a volunteer t-shirt but i didn't have any plans to dropout.

i must admit it was a really good decision i made. though i not at all a morning person, i drove to the start point at 5:30 AM. Driving through the cold is quite a challenge but still quite cherish able. having reached there, i hardly knew anyone but quickly realized i wasn't alone. Surrounded by strangers but soon it turned out like 'working with friends'. i happened to meet Shamina, one of the event managers from the event managing company. the work was unexpectedly hetic but working with the group was actually fun and got to knew some good people. Most of the volunteers though were from a sports group or self made group. Of course college students dominated the group, guys and girls alike.

Recently i came across an article, by which apparently India has a high number volunteer groups. it was fantastic to know the volunteering scene has shot up significantly. A social responsibility among the group. we worked for a good time, and obviously we had time to know each other and share our experiences. it was great interacting with them. Shamina, who was the manager went through the most details of planning of such huge event. it did leave me in awe.

What was more amazing for me, was to see people take the 'RUN'. Its absolutely awesome to see people run. Professionals, amateurs, group runners, 80 year old to 15 year old, foreigners, people with a sore knee and whats more is people who were physically challenged also participated. it instilled a sense of grittiness in me, i asked myself, "There can be no better inspiration to a human than his fellow beings. if all these people, who push themselves and run why cant i?".

"You simply have to lift your lazy bum with a positive and determinate mindset. That's all, everything is in your mind," said a gentleman, who completed a 10 KM run, looking around 70 years old with a heavy strapping on his knee.

"Sure sir, things around seems to be so intresting. soon i guess i will do a 10KM." i replied confidently.

Shiva and Muhammed another two friends i happened to meet. Both were final year engineering students. Shiva was associated with Chennai Volunteers group for over an year. He sought to explain me how the organisation worked and what benefits one could get doing so including scholarships. He seemed a very dedicated person. We happened to park ourselves beside an orphanage and then a group of kids started yelling out shiva's name. i was suprised like other volunteers, later he told he volunteered for sapling planting, lunch donating at the ashram recently. it was very sweet to see the way the children spoke to him.

"So why are you into this volunteering thing any specific reason, bro?" i asked.

"i grew up in very hard conditions, Shaan. i really want to give something to the society in some way. " Shiva replied.

It was a legitimate reason while few others said it was some passion within them which drove them.
" Getting to speak to different people mostly liked minded people is one great advantage, it's great fun actually, " Shamina said. I could easily agree with her.
We had a good breakfast on the grassy ground even though most of us weren't hungry. Had it been my normal routine Sunday, i would surely have woke up at 9 AM had breakfast and doze off again. Haha.

Overall the morning was well spent and that too for a reason :)
Satisfied with myself.
Do ping me to volunteer for any events, there are many opportunities to do so.


mail id : ssnoor27@gmail.com