KOCHI: The theme is just antithetical to Paulo Coelho’s wisdom. That the resolve of a person alone can take him to his dream, even if the entire world conspires to put hurdles in the journey. When Rahul K P, the only Keralite in the Indian squad for the FIFA U-17 World Cup, began playing football, his parents were the first ones to turn their backs on him. They wanted their son to get a government job. The only support that came Rahul’s way was from his father’s younger brother Pradeep K B, who was instrumental in sowing the seeds of passion for the game in the boy’s mind.
Pradeep played locally in Thrissur, his hometown, and was a prolific goal scorer. Whenever he went to play tournaments, Rahul tagged along, partly due to his love for the game and also the peanuts offered by his uncle’s teammates. Whenever their team won, Pradeep deputised Rahul to receive the trophy. However, Rahul’s parents Praveen KB and Bindu Joy were least amused.
They tried to dissuade him and reprimanded Pradeep for leading their child ‘astray’.“Like every father, I wanted him to focus on studies. Rahul was not exceptionally good, but I thought he might be able to get a government job. So when he played street football, I used to scold him. But he was adamant,” reminisced Rahul’s father.
Pradeep told Express several incidents that highlighted his brother’s lack of interest in Rahul pursuing football. “When Chindappi (that’s how Pradeep calls Rahul) began hanging out with me and my friends, he developed a liking for the game.
The floodlights, noisy galleries and frenzied environment lured him. When he began playing street football with friends, I noticed his talent and wanted to make him a good seven-a-side player at least. But no one else supported him. My brother was angry at me for supporting the boy. They didn’t provide boots or jerseys. They even refused to wash his soiled jersey,” said Pradeep, who drives an autorickshaw.
Pradeep made sure to get Rahul trained under a qualified coach. First, he took him to the Sports Education Promotion Trust (SEPT) camp at Parappur and then to M Peethambaran, a former Santosh Trophy coach. Aged 12 or 13 then, Rahul had already started making waves in local tournaments, where he played beside players several years older. In fact, Rahul was made to play with seniors at Pradeep’s insistence. “Footballers in their growing age usually have fear getting injured. I wanted him to be fearless and pitted him alongside seniors,” Pradeep said.
However, this was a risky plan and almost backfired when Rahul suffered a nasty blow on his nose while attempting a header. There was a lot of bleeding and the duo had a torrid time when they came home. “I knew they (Rahul’s parents) would go mad. And it happened. I told them that football players should be ready for injuries. Even fractures are not uncommon. Surprisingly, they became silent after that.”
Praveen acknowledged that he didn’t consider Rahul’s decision wise until he was adjudged the best U-14 player in the state. “I didn’t know football can lead to a good life. We belong to the middle-class and our concern mainly revolves around securing a future for our son. When he became the best U-14 player, I realised he was right to choose the sport,” Praveen said.
Three years ago, when he was in ninth standard, Rahul was selected to the Indian camp for the U-17 World Cup. Pradeep feels this is just the beginning. “I rate him as a very good player. Plus, he has a never-say-die attitude. I always remind him that goalkeepers should be wary of his presence. He is a tough fellow and should make it to the 11,” he said.Meanwhile, Rahul’s parents and his younger sister, who have never seen him play live, are undecided about going to Delhi to watch him play. The trip, they know, will burn a hole in their pocket. “Travel and stay will cost a lot of money. I don’t think I can afford it,” said Praveen, who runs a kennel. However, Praveen is happily resigned to the fact that football is Rahul’s profession. There was a time, at the modest house in Ollukkara, when the sight of a young boy flirting with leather was met with rebuke. Now, that has changed. Football has permeated its four walls.