What better way to spend Fathers’ Day than to cheer for father on the football field? Around 30 dads got to take part in a soccer tournament at CD Park, organised by Warming Up Kids, a sports centre where their children usually go to play the rest of the year.
The coaches warmed up the dads before dividing them into three teams of seven-plus- substitutes. The blue team was named Manchester City, the orange Netherlands and the green one became Nigeria. The kids were delighted to see their fathers on the field and almost cracked their voices cheering for them.
“As modern parents, it’s difficult to spend time with our children but that’s something we have got to do. So on weekends and at nights after coming back from work, I try to give my son as much time as possible,” said Saumya Ray, father of Class II student Rishiraj, who has been training at the centre for four years. “Being here with him today brings me great joy as he loves to play football and I myself had introduced him to the sport. So I am happy to be with him here, even if it means waking up early one day for it.”
Snapshots of the fathers with their children at CD Park
“It’s great to see my father play as it’s been really long since I last saw him play football,” said Anay Bansal, an 11-year-old student who idolises Lionel Messi. “I remember when I was four years old, I watched a football match with my father and that was the moment I fell in love with this game. I have been playing the sport ever since and my father was my first coach.”
A league stage, followed by a final between the top two teams, saw the team named after Manchester City end up as the champions. Fitness levels of the dads was not high but they were still heroes to their little ones. “We generally have lots of events throughout the year but this is our first official event after the pandemic,” said Runa Kedia, director of Warming Up Kids that also teaches karate, crossfit training and dance to kids aged three to 13years.
“We decided to hold this event at our usual weekend class time of 6.30am to wrap it up before it gets too hot and also so the kids can spend the rest of the day with their families. “The best part is that we have all become like a family. So even dads of former students dropped by today to interact with the kids whose own fathers could not come today,” said Kedia.
Runa’s own kids — Aryaman and Arohi — get coached here too and her husband Ashwini played his part as a father on the field. “I get to spend good time with my kids in the evenings and we spend weekends together. I also help Aryaman with his practice as I want him to become a professional footballer some day,” smiled Ashwini.
saltlake@abp.in
