Ah! The fascinating game of soccer… Passion of our Goenkars…. A pass here… a pass there….Whoa! That’s a goal! Hurray! With 1,457,723 Goans, no one would bat an eyelid to soccer being declared the state’s sport. A great sport! If you can dribble with the ball, consider yourself the Goan Messi.
Lionel Messi! A little dope on this 5 ft 6 ½ inches forward with a fan following in the most remote regions. This fiery soccer player is respected for his super heroic ability to dribble. He was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency at a young age of 11 years. Having moved to Spain with his dad for a trial with Barcelona’s youth academy, his medical bills were taken care of. His first contract was on a paper napkin. He is nicknamed ‘The Flea’ for his speed and agility.
Edson Arantes do Nascimento, popularly known the world over as Pele is regarded as the greatest player of all times. Having a poverty stricken background, Pele couldn’t even afford a proper football and would play with a sock stuffed with newspaper which was tied with a string or a grapefruit. Though he retired in 1977, he is an ambassador for football the world over.
Manuel Francisco dos Santos, nicknamed Garrincha and also known as the ‘little bird’ and ‘Mane’ is considered as the best dribbler in history. Having several birth defects such as the deformed spine, the right leg bent outwards and short left leg, Manuel was affectionately nicknamed by his sister as the Garrincha; the name for brown bird Wren. To quote Pele, “Garrincha could do things with the ball that no other player could.” Playing soccer when one has physical deformity is an achievement par excellence. David Beckham, the retired English footballer known for his passes and bending free kicks wanted to be a footballer ever since he was a kid. When asked by his school teachers about his future plans, he had expressed his wish to be a footballer. Being a soccer player comes no easy and many don’t make it to the top. So when his teachers persisted, “What do you really want to do, for a job?” he knew it was going to be soccer. Having revealed this in the 2007 interview, Beckham is a fashion icon and a name that all identify with soccer.
Arthur Antunes Coimbra, known as Zico and ‘White Pele’ by many is regarded as one of the best players of the late 1970s and early 1980s. In his youth, he wasn’t physically strong and underwent a body development program to work on his muscles coupled with a special diet. This later helped him in his football career.
It’s amazing how these football players have gained fame chasing their dreams to be who they are. We just know them as football greats with fantastic footwork. However, it is inspiring that they have transgressed their physical limitations or paucity or pessimistic societal views of ‘soccer can’t be regarded as a job’ to achieve professional success at the international level. Kudos!
