12/07/09: We are back on track. Calls were made, sms messages were sent, new players were enlisted: we tried to rally the troops. The “Hare Rama Hare Krishna” lads were contacted and they expressed their interest to get things moving again. However, by Friday, they did not respond to our calls to confirm.

Rendez-vous point was outside the Mahatma Gandhi Institute premises at 06 30 on Sunday morning. At 07 15 however, only three of us were present. Finally, 4 others showed up and we were told another one was already on the field.

We ended up with a 4 v/s 4 run-out, along the width of the secondary football ground. Our bags were used as cages, no goalie, each total of three corners earned a penalty that was shot from the halfway line. The match ended 8-7.

A promising start, we thought. Even though we wished the “Hare Rama Hare Krishna” lads had shown up, we were reassured that the core of the team – 8 players – was still faithful. The “Core 8″ were born.

Next episode: “Failure”

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