By: ceefoon.near
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MarmaJ always loved to watch a good game of soccer and could watch the kids play football every Saturday morning after their jogging sessions. She came to support the local teams whenever she could and loved to watch the kids showcase their soccer skills. Hers was the loudest voice in the stands and her cheers would encourage both teams. Often, she would bring snacks for the boys to share among themselves: sliced oranges, home-baked muffins, and trail-mix. Whenever she showed up, the kids would be energized and would give their best on the field to entertain her. Sometimes, Robert would accompany MarmaJ to games. Robert was MarmaJ’s nephew and he was known as one of the quiet kids.
He rarely played with other kids on weekends. He had low self-esteem and lacked confidence among his peers, which affected his ability to perform on the field during school tournaments. At recess or on weekends, he preferred kicking his ball against the school wall rather than play with other kids.
In school, he didn’t like taking part in essay competitions, debates, and presentations even though he was one of the more brilliant pupils in his class. MarmaJ had been helping him deal with his low self-esteem and lack of confidence by teaching him how to behave and speak around his peers and cheering him up whenever he got selected to represent his class in any competition.
Today was not just any friendly match in her community, it was the qualifiers for a tournament. MarmaJ’s nephew, Robert was to play for his school team. Once a year, the kids from different schools competed against each other. Robert had a track record of being selected to represent his school in soccer tournaments. He was the fastest kid in the school, and when he wasn’t nervous, he often outperformed the other students. Though he had skills, he never volunteered to play on community teams. And though he seldom got onto the field, he was the striker for his school team, the Kansas Fire.
As he sat in the front seat of her car, in uniform, fidgeting, MarmaJ began to encourage him. “Robert, you have done this before and you can do it again. I want you to make yourself proud and me proud as you always do.”
She handed Robert a few cookies and a bottle of milk because that was his favourite snack. Getting out of the car, MarmaJ gave Robert an embrace and they parted ways as he was supposed to meet with his coach and his teammates. She went to where other spectators were seated and sat patiently waiting for the match to begin. The game finally began and the players ran out onto the field. It was a few minutes into the first half and she didn’t see her nephew anywhere on the pitch. She began to worry.
After searching for a while she saw him – a distant figure on the bench – his head was down and his hands clasped. When it was half-time, MarmaJ descended the steps and circled around to the benches to talk to her nephew who had remained seated although his teammates were congregated together and laughing.
“Hello Robert”, she says, handing him another bottle of milk. He didn’t look up for a while, and tears began to fall from his eyes. MarmaJ sat beside him on the bench, hugged him, and asked why he wasn’t playing. He replied apologetically that he wasn’t feeling well. “You’re spectacular player kiddo, your team can’t do without you, cheer up!. Let’s seat here together until you feel better and if you want, you can tell your coach you are fit to play the second half,” said MarmaJ. She sat with him, and then behind him on the stands once play resumed. He felt her warm presence and his back began to straighten as he sat through the beginning of the second half.
In the 80th minute, a shot from the opposition was fired towards Fred, the center forward. Fred was fatigued and shouted towards the bench.
Motioning for Fred to come to the bench, the coach turned to Robert. “Robert, we need you!” the coach called. Robert hopped from the bench and smiled toward MarmaJ’s direction, and she smiled back. He got on the pitch, and the ball came to him, he dribbled, he ran, and he scored the winning goal in the 89th minute. MarmaJ jumped on her feet in excitement. Everyone kept screaming “Robert!” as the final whistle blew. Everyone gathered around him. His teammates clapped him on the back.
“You see? You are extraordinary,” MarmaJ told Robert as they entered her car. “You think everyone is extraordinary,” Robert replied. MarmaJ laughed and started the car. She glanced at him and saw how his posture had changed. Robert had earned self-respect and it was visible in the way he held himself. MarmaJ couldn’t have felt happier. They drove home singing songs on the radio.