by Davina
I used to be on the football
team for the Red team at school. I wasn't the only girl - it was more of a
co-ed thing. I had never played football as a hobby, but something always
drew me towards it: the sweat, the running, the shouting, the pushing and
shoving, and the adrenaline rush when you finally kick that ball.The first match for our team was against the Yellow team. When the Reds walked to the center of the field, I suddenly felt so 'blur'. I had no idea what to do. 'Davina, go defense!' cried one boy. I gave him a blank look. He walked over to me, and said, "Stay near the goal and make sure the ball doesn't get in!" I nodded enthusiastically and ran into position.
The whistle blew, and the game began. I looked around me, and the other 2 defendants were girls. I looked up front, and I saw this crowd of boys fighting over the ball. That was where all the action was. I thought to myself, "Hey, I want to be there!"
But before I knew it, the ball came shooting right in my direction. The boys on my team were running with the opponents, shouting, "Kick the ball! KICK THE BALL!"
So I ran and kicked it.
It didn't just roll. It soared.
The crowd went wild! I looked at my foot as if to say, "Did I just do that?"
Every time the ball came my way, I just ran and kicked it in the opposite direction. It felt so good! I only wished that it could have happened more than a mere thrice.
Soon enough, it was half-time. When the teams switched sides, I was told to go back to defense. I was disappointed. I wanted to be an attacker so badly! But these guys had something which I didn't have: experience. They knew the rules, the tricks, the strategies. My selfishness would only bring the team down. So being the passive person I was (and still am), I kept my mouth shut.
The game resumed. I stayed put in my position, sometimes even taking the opportunity to squat down and just wait until I was needed. I was needed eventually.
The ball came tumbling towards my team's goal. As usual, I kicked the ball back. But then I looked around, and none of my team members were around to take the ball! So I ran after the ball.
I kicked it further up.
Still, nobody from my team was there to take the ball from me.
So I kicked it again, but just within my reach to kick it again. And again. And again.
I think I was dribbling.
I looked up - still nobody there! I had already passed the middle of the field, and was heading straight for the opponents' goal!
"Where are you guys!?!" I shouted.
I saw some of my team members running on either side of me. But they were too far for me to pass the ball to!
I realized I had just turned into an attacker. There was no turning back - it was now or never. So I charged forward.
"Go, Davina!" I heard behind my back.
I approached the opposing defendants - like in my team, they were all girls. But boy, were they ferocious-looking! They were all in a crouching stance, ready to take on the first female 'attacker' of the Reds.
I was running so fast, my feet were barely touching the ground. The opponents around me were closing in for their kill.
I vividly remember saying out loud: "Oh, S**t! , S**T!
The goal was right in front of me. I ignored the fact that girls were in my way, and kicked the ball with all my might.
One girl kicked it back.
I kicked it back, and
strangely, I let out a loud roar! It zoomed past the girls, but the goalie caught hold of it and threw it back to the middle of the field.
D**nit, I thought.
For the rest of the game, I picked up the courage to run ahead and have my share of action before running back to my defense position.
The game finished in a draw. I walked up the stairs to where everyone was sitting down and watching. My fellow Red team members ran up to me and shouted at me, "Man, you are so GOOD!"
"Really?" I asked sheepishly.
The teachers in the Red group came up to me and sang their share of praises. Even the popular male footballers of the school passed me and flashed a thumbs-up! All this time, I was in my usual 'blur' state - grinning on the outside, but on the inside, trying to figure out what to make of it.
The teacher in charge of the Red team came to congratulate me. I told her that I had never played a proper football match before, until that day. She said 'I had it in me', whatever that was supposed to mean. From what I could gather, she was implying that on the field, regardless of my inexperience, I had the spirit of a true sportsperson.
Later on, I went for Chemistry class. The Chemistry teacher was this HEE-UGE African bloke, and he didn't take any s**t from anyone. Everyone feared him in school because he was a real cranky guy. And I don't know if it was just me, but it seemed as though he always picked on me! So when I walked into class right after the football match and settled myself down in my seat, I was terrified to hear him call my name!
Afraid of getting the usual shelling, I looked up and expected the worst.
The teacher said, "YOU."
I wet my pants.
".play like a tiger!"
His permanent frown broke into a smile. I sighed with much relief, kept my pee in, and thanked him bashfully.
The guys in class chipped in. "Yeah sir, she's really good!"
It just so happened that my Chemistry teacher played for his country in Africa. Whenever he played in the school field, everyone would run away. So to hear a remark like that coming from a guy like him, I guess you could say I was happy.