By: Rohan Agarwal
Sports is one of the most powerful form of a collective experience. An experience such that
brings people together irrespective of any factor one could fathom. Your race, colour, creed does
not matter. Nor does your financial ability. Well, mostly it does not, but that is a conversation for
some other time.
One such sport is the beautiful game, football. A game for one and a game for all. A sport
that has practically no barriers to entry. One need not fret over buying rackets or protective gear
of any form. All one needs is a football and two functioning legs! In fact, even if one may not be
able to play a football for whatsoever reason, it allows people to be associated with the game in
some way or the other.
Football is one of the most impactful sports in the world. In United Kingdom, we have
seen football clubs give back to the community in numerous ways. Clubs make their localities’
life worthwhile. It also often gives the people of its locality a purpose, a thing to look forward to
outside their day-to-day tedious life.
In Africa, football has done as much as curb civil wars. In 2002, a civil war unfolded in Ivory
Coast. 3 years later, Ivory Coast qualified for their first every Fifa World Cup in 2005. It was one
of the only things that got the country together to celebrate a joyous occasion. One of the games
greatest’s, Didier Drogba wielded his influence and used this moment of togetherness for the
greater good. With a strong set of words at a time of a big achievement, Drogba was able to sway
the one’s with arms in their hands and finally put an end to a seemingly never-ending war. This is
just one of the many times that football has brought together a divided or estranged group of
people. Given them a reason to be together and share love for something common.
Personally as well, as someone who has been an avid sports fan and player for long over
a decade, I can vouch for the fact that football and sports in general is by far the most inclusive part of my life. When it comes to football, it does not matter if I personally know an individual
or even speak the same language for example. As long as that person shares the same care,
compassion and love for football, I know for a fact that we belong in the same community.
School-level state and national tournaments were a testament to this quality of sports. People
from different backgrounds- rich or poor, fair or dark, it never mattered. The only thing that
mattered was the common desire to entertain ourselves, have fun, and of course, win!
Lastly, I would like to acknowledge that the views and opinions expressed in this article
are personal and do not reflect the views or official policy of Ashoka University, Sports Ministry,
Her Campus, and Her Campus Ashoka University.