The Beautiful Game Returns
OM VIKRAM THAPA
Football was my everything through school and college – the smell of fresh grass, the perfect weight of the ball on my left foot, the pure joy of a goal that felt like poetry in motion. But after graduation, reality hit hard. The boots were hung up, replaced by office shoes and the mundane rhythm of adult life. For years, football became just a distant memory, relegated to weekend highlights and wistful glances at local pitches. Then came the pandemic, and with it, an unexpected second chance. While getting air in my apartment complex courtyard, I noticed kids kicking around a worn football with raw enthusiasm but little technique. Something stirred inside me. \"Mind if I join?\" I asked one afternoon, my heart racing like I was about to take a cup final penalty. The ball felt strange at first, but muscle memory is beautiful – within minutes, my left foot remembered its magic. Soon, our informal kickabouts became daily sessions where I found myself naturally teaching them proper technique, game awareness, and the discipline that comes with real football. Word spread, and when a parent mentioned that BBFS was looking for coaches, everything clicked into place. The interview felt more like a conversation, and soon I was offered the position of Assistant Coach for their under-7 and under-10 groups. Now, standing on the sideline with my whistle around my neck, watching eager young faces soak up every lesson, I\'ve realized the beautiful game never really left me – it was just preparing me for something even more meaningful: nurturing the next generation of dreamers who chase their hopes across the grass just like I once did.