Live India, Love Football

“Neel, why didn’t you come to practice today?” “Sorry, Greg. I couldn’t make it. Just didn’t feel like training today.” “Neel, you know the policy around missing training. You’ve been so consistent in the past. Please don’t miss any more sessions until the end of the season. You’re a key player, and the team needs you.” “Thanks, Greg. I have a lot going on these days, and I’m actually not sure I’m going to be able to continue with the team. I may have to stop playing.” There was a long pause. “Neel, it sounds like you’re going through something, so I’ll give you some time to think about what you’re saying and whether you really mean it. But I’ll leave you with one thing…” And then he said something that has stayed with me for nearly three decades. “You’ll never get this time back. This opportunity to play for a top youth club in Southern California, alongside talented teammates who are more like family. In a short time, this will all be gone, and it won’t come back. So take advantage o...

The other day, my father-in-law was sitting at our home in Mumbai when he casually asked me, “So, what sport do you want Leela to play football or padel?” I assume he chose those two particular sports because football has been my passion, and profession, for more than 30 years, while padel has become my latest sporting obsession. As I tend to do with almost every question asked of me, including the ones that are clearly rhetorical, I thought about it for a few seconds and then gave him an unnecessarily long answer. My initial response was football. I had plenty of reasons. First, I think football is one of the most complete sports a child can play. It builds strength, stamina, coordination and fitness, but also demands awareness, decision-making, resilience and the ability to keep going when things aren't going your way. Second, I think training and playing football can be equally fun which, in my experience, isn't necessarily true of every sport, although I won't name name...