PAPPA! FOR YOU!!

PAPPA-FOR YOU!!

The young kid was no great player. He used to be more on the bench than in the ground most of the practice sessions.The coach was nearly frustrated.But the kids intense desire to play prevented him from telling him to stop trying.He was also touched by the tenacity of the kid's father who used to bring him to every training session,sit right throuh and cheer whenever the kid was in the ground-whether dribbling the ball or just standing still.Even when he was sent out, the father used to keep talking to him with encouraging words. The commitment of the father who wanted his incompetent son to be a soccer player was what attracted the coach more.The poor man didn't miss even one occasion when his child was in the ground.Not a single day.
Finally perseverance paid and the boy was in the reserve team and started playing the trial and second class league games.The father was more thrilled and cheering when his son was running around in the field.
Then the date for the final league match came. The team had a chance to win the league but for a problem Four of the best players were down with an infection and two more were in the injured bench.The reserve players had to be summoned and the chances of winning was remote. But the coach was determined to play. So our hero ws also asked to be present on the Friday when the finals was being played and also for the training sessions from the previous Monday. Monday and Tuesday the boy came and played the trialgames.The father was still in his seat smiling and happy for his son. On Wednesday the coach noticed that the boy and his father were missing.He didn't really mindas the boy wouldn't be missed in the match. On Thursday, he saw the boy walking in with his head hung low and dragging his feet. The father was no where to be seen.The coach didn't ask where the father was but did ask the boy to play one leg of the trials. He was shocked to see the sudden burst of energy and speed with control in the boy. By the end of the session, the coach was convinced the boy deserved to play more than many of the others in the reserve list,based on that day's form.So the boy was in the team the next day and to every one's surprise ,played with such a fire and spirit that he score the only 2 goals in the match, to carry his team to victory.The coach had no words.

After the match the coach asked,"Son,I don't see you father around. I am sure he would have loved watching you today.I am immensely pleased with your game. How did you change in just a day?!"

The boy repied:"Yesterday's trials and today's game were played by me for my Pappa.Even though he was not on the grounds,I am sure he would have enjoyed my game." A fter a pause,"These two days he was not in the stands but he was up above with God watching me play.He died this Wednesday." The Coach was dumbfounded.He patted the boy and said'"Yes Son, your pappa would have defenitely enjoyed seeing your game these two days."
The boy replied"Yes sir.He surely would have. Because sitting with God he would have been able to really see me play.So these games I played for him to see. When he was alive and in the grounds cheering for me, he was unable to see me play.Becaus he was blind!"