Makara Is Excited to Be Back On The Pitch
Makara Is Excited to Be Back On The Pitch
Makara* is proud of the path he’s chosen. When he walks onto the pitch and meets the excited eyes of the crowd or the roar of the crowd propels him to a goal, he feels overjoyed. At 12 years old, Makara already envisions himself as a professional player in the future.
He began his football journey in earnest when he joined ISF’s Football Programme two years ago. Before joining the programme, Makara had never had any structured training, but it wasn’t for a lack of drive. Often he and his neighbourhood friends would gather to make the potholed pavements near his home into their beloved urban pitch. So, when his school put out a call for players, he jumped at the opportunity. Now he plays as an attacker for their U14 Boys team.
The best part of being on a team to this enthusiastic 7th grader, is when he and his teammates work so well together, it feels like they’re moving in sync. So it follows that seeing his teammates argue or blame each other makes his heart sink. For him, helping his comrades is crucial because it helps build team spirit and improves everyone’s performance.
Follow us on Facebook
Join us on our journey to provide opportunities for sport to over 3,500 underprivileged Cambodian children, as well as education, healthcare and nutrition to another 700.
Like our Facebook page to share in our successes, hear about events and find out how you can help these vulnerable youth.
Occasionally though, Makara’s courage falters and he fears being hurt on the field. His parents share his concerns, but still support his participation in the league. Yet when he feels this way, it doesn’t take him long to rally. Like losses, he sees the potential for injury as an inevitability in sport. So he always finds the confidence to bounce back and strengthen his team. He sees events like the AIA-ISF Youth League as vital because they are motivators to work harder and give his team the opportunity to become champions.
Apart from the important life skills he has learnt through football, Makara has also noticed an improvement in his health. He attributes regular play to making him stronger, more fit and boosting his immune system. In addition, he has made steadfast friends and through winning matches and weathering loses, he has become more confident. He would recommend playing football to those who haven’t tried because he wants them to experience the same joy, learn important lessons, and become healthier like him.
