Resurrection: A Tale of Brave Football

Nagpur Football Club Stadium, after game

8-0. Simply shameful for Nagpur FC.

Mumbai’s football players celebrated as they won their biggest match against their biggest rivals, without any problem. There was practically no defense from their archrivals, and when they got helpless, Mumbai shot it to the net every single time.

Kalyan Mane was furious. He knew his players had potential. He wanted more from his players. But the players were pressuring themselves, and Mane didn’t like that.

Dressing room

Mane led all his players to the old and dusty dressing room.

“The oldest of you guys is twenty-seven, Jeet. But, you, your style of play reflects this room — old and dusty,” Mane said.

“I want you to get one thing in your head — we are barely in the MahaFootball Division One. We are going to be relegated after one more loss. If you don’t play well, Nagpur will be in the Division Two for the first time,” Mane continued.

“Our goal now is to stay in Division One — and get promoted to the IFP Division Two. And then, we have to win Division Two,” he said.

“You guys are literally hopeless. Stop being so helpless and cowardly. Start playing football bravely,” Mane ended, packing his kit up.

“I will meet you tomorrow for friendlies with Amaravati’s juniors side. We have to win the game. Imagine the game as the final of the MahaFootball Division One.”

Players at the press conference

“Hopefully I get a transfer. I can’t stand this poor, crappy club,” Sameer snarked.

“I’m scared for the club,” goalie Joy said.

“I don’t know. It’s so dark. I mean, I was part of the glory days. I don’t know why this happened,” Jeet said.

Tarekh and Junaid were crying, and refused to answer.

Before the friendlies

“10 rounds of the stadium. Now!” Mane whistled.

Sameer refused to run with the team, instead making a video of his dribbling.

“Hello, good clubs, I’m afraid I’m stuck in this crappy, small town hell club! Please get me transferred. For you, I have a deal — get me for just thirty lakh per year!”

Just as he shot it into the goal, Mane stood ahead of him holding his phone.

“Coach saheb, you’re blocking my cam!”

“Never ever come back to the club if you want to say those words about Nagpur FC,” Mane scolded.

“But it is true!” Sameer replied.

“It may be true, but you are part of the team. Your job is to fix the club, not badmouth it.”

Sameer sulkily put aside his camera, made his hair and then began running.

Friendlies match

The Nagpur players gathered in a circle.

“This is an important game. You are not fighting for a trophy here, you are fighting for Nagpur.”

The players nodded as if they understood him.

“Go Nagpur!”

The teenage players of Amaravati were in a circle, and Pablo, their coach, took them under his wing.

“Don’t go by their age. This is a loser club. But remember, we have to win. Go Amaretto or whatever.”

“But it is Amaravati,” a player whispered.

“I don’t care. I want you to win against those prickly losers!”

The circles split into their positions. Tarekh was heating up. Despite the players controlling him, he broke through from the defense, and ran with the ball to Dilip, Amaravati’s star player.

“Yo, you, how dare you!” Tarekh said, before slapping Dilip.

Dilip grabbed Tarekh’s collar and the two began dragging each other down to the ground.

The referee ran, whistled and showed both of them a red card.

They sniped at each other, walking towards their camps. Junaid walked out from Nagpur’s camp, while Ashwin walked from the Amaravati camp.

The game continued on till half-time, as Amaravati held possession steadily, but did not shoot that often. For a change, Nagpur’s tackles were much more sharp, and they had recovered slightly from their loss.

The referee blew the half-time whistle.

This was nil to nil. The intensity shot up as players returned to the pitch and the game began once again.

Dribbling through and through, Sameer nearly avoided Ashwin and then dunked it over to the net! GOAL! They had actually scored.

The players rejoiced and got each other up and moving, firing imaginary shots in the air. There would have been no reason to celebrate for NFC in its glory days, but after loss after loss, this was respite.

Joy was still scared. His heart was pounding. His confidence hadn’t improved with the goal.

Ashwin flew past and ther ball landed over on the head of his teammate who bounced it with a cracking header to the goalpost! GOAL! The scores had equalized! The young Amaravati players rush and celebrate.

A few more moments pass. It is a one-all draw.

Getting back to the glory days

Some more games like these go by. In a miracle of resurrection, Nagpur has reached the final. It is a standoff between Mumbai Legacy FC, This decides the winner of the premier league of the state.

The kick-off starts. There’s heated passes, but the ball hits metal and doesn’t land in the area of the goal. There’s passes and shots to the goal.

GOAL! Mumbai fires it. Joy is valiant, and tries to get it away, but he falls trying. The Arena De Mumbai breaks into applause and celebration. It is a one to nil lead for them.

A few more passes. A couple breaks here and there. Nothing of note happens until the 89th minute. All hope is lost.

Then, Sameer comes in flying, tackling it away and shoots it over! GOAL and DRAW!

Many minutes pass, but there is no new goal. Time for penalties.

Penalties

5 penalties each would decide. It is tense in the stadium.

The scoreline stands 4-4. Mumbai has to shoot now.

Joy keeps his eyes firm, pointed to the ball. It is almost in, and Joy slaps it off! SAVE!

Sameer gets ready and fires it through. 5-4! NAGPUR HAVE WON DIVISION ONE! This is a moment of glory as the team rejoices!

All it took was brave, unfettered football.