The Real goal 'keeper'; Image Source: IFAWB

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In 1869, a little boy was born to a family of Sarbadhikari residing in Kolkata, who with his undeterred courage wrote the remarkable history of Football in India. 

His journey of becoming '**Father of Indian Football**' started as a child when he would casually accompany his mother to a nearby river. On his way one day, he saw some Britishers playing at a distance. Coming closer to the ground, he was thrilled to see them playing with something circular in shape. As it rolled towards him, his eyes gleamed with excitement, and at the behest of a British player, he kicked it back.  

> At that time, Football was mostly limited to players who were non-Indians, and the game flourished as more Trade Clubs began to get established by businessmen. But who knew that these might also count to be a few of their last games in India.

That day, little Nagendra was clearly carried away with this Ball he knew nothing about. As days passed, he was cherished by this memory all day and night, and marveled at the 'circular thing', until he found the way to learn this game.

Soon after, he began to narrate his experience to everyone in school and started a group fundraiser to purchase the same 'circular thing' he had in his mind. Although they ended up with a rugby ball, the game eventually began!

The next step was to learn the rules and to understand how the game is played. 

Since the term "Let's Google it!" wasn't an option, he and his group with absolutely no guidance and no knowledge covered the ground of the school. Running around the field, they kicked the ball as they paced around it clueless. Yet, they were able to captivate many people's attention due to the fact that it was a completely new thing. 

Each day crowds gathered until a neighboring college professor saw the boys playing on the school field with a rugby ball. His curiosity and confusion led him to approach the boys and ask what they were playing. His heart, however, was moved by their innocence and silly antics, so he returned, but with a promise to teach the game.

As a committed and ambitious boy, young Nagendra finally set out on his quest for the success ladder of his dream. A person who lasted this long surely was the best in the game after getting some real training. Though he was an all-rounder too, who made sure that he share this new found passion with everyone and introduce football everywhere he could.

Along with his group, he formed the first-ever football club with only Indians players and was on the spree to universalize the word 'football' among his peers. Eventually, people begin to know about the game and its rules. As one after the other football clubs across the city were built, students and sports clubs embraced the new sport. After this, everything seems to be a part of history. 

With love and passion, the Indian account of football was beautifully crafted by this great human being, that continues to flourish across the world. 

There is no doubt that Leo Messi's retirement took an era of football, leaving behind football fans all over the world in despair. But in India, Football had its beginnings with the Nagendra Prasad Sarbadhika that selects goal 'keepers' who marvel at the 'circular thing.'

When passion and consistency are combined, one can achieve any goal. But in Nagendra Prasad's words, they were just inches from the goal, so adding more goal 'keepers' would be necessary. Guess what, he succeeded. 