Learning life lessons from a 16 year old superstar
Over the past month, I’ve learned some important life
lessons from arguably the best 16 year old footballer in India, Uttam Rai. I never expected this to happen, but
certainly appreciate existence, Libero Sports and Uttam for making it
possible.
Uttam is a U16 national team player from the state of Sikkim
who has been on the AIFF radar since he was 13 years of age. Many people have praised him including former
India captain Baichung Bhutia who at one point actually called him “the next
Baichung.” My company also recognized
his talents and, more importantly, his potential and signed him as one of our
first domestic players we represented with the intention to help him find
playing opportunities abroad.
Thanks to our relationship with Rush Soccer in Colorado, the
world’s largest youth soccer club, we were able to secure a spot for him on
Rush’s U18 US Development Academy team.
A long term trip to the US means travel costs and visas. The travel
costs were generously taken care of by Coca-Cola India who has had a major role
in Uttam’s development as he was first discovered many years ago while playing
in the Coca-Cola Mir Iqbal Hussain Trophy.
The next step was securing a US visa for Uttam which unfortunately took
longer than we expected, but fortunately allowed me to spend more time with
this special young man.
Uttam’s family lives in Sikkim so while the PR events and
visa process was going on he stayed with us at our office in Gurgaon. It was such a treat having him around as we
all felt that Uttam was the little brother which none of us had ever had. And, surprisingly,
after weeks of spending time with Uttam, I realized that he was silently
looking out for me much more than I was looking out for him.
Uttam with Libero Sports MD & Coca-Cola India CEO Mr. Atul Singh |
Former India Captain Baichung Bhutia handing over a boot to Uttam at a Nike PR event |
I remember being sad and a bit worried when saying goodbye
to Uttam as he rushed to the airport to catch his flight to the US. Many
questions arose in my mind: Will he be okay? Will he get lonely? Will he like
the US? Will the US like him? etc… But that all vanished quickly as I realized
that he will have every opportunity to play football, be genuine to people and
eat rice when he is in Colorado meaning that he will be right at home. I wish
Uttam well and will never forget him for helping me remember one of life’s most
important lessons: less is more.
Comments
Post a Comment