Playground which looks well maintained inwardly is dirtied by the adulteration and dirty politics creating hurdles on the ground for the talented players. Playground which is meant to entertain is entertaining nepotism and corruption.
One such story is witnessed in the Anandpura slum, Bangalore, from which Satish an Indian national league football player arises, his coach Naveen Moses who works in IT Company takes time to train him along with other talented boys beside other two professional coach during his weekends without any expectations. He states that boys are talented but they lack certain facilities starting from the sport accessories, playground to opportunities in the federation or associations.
Stigma of Slum has lockdown their aid from out, restricting their talents within themselves, within slum there is stigma of Government job and these talents are valued only with government placements through sports quotas else their talent is devalued, most of the time urgency of achievement condemn failure and flatten sweeping away their future.
As the world faces the pandemic of isms playground is also a place where it is exhibited. Selection is based on the requirement of committee and not based on the talents. Hence slum requires Christ like coach to break through all these barriers. God makes place in the midst of corruption by raising few good coaches like Naveen Thomas, Sridhar, and Shiva who steps forward to stand in solidarity and fight against all these disparities, their commitment to place Satish-like talented slum dwellers in the National league is commendable.
God opens up the heart and mind of these coaches to see the talent on the dirty playground and also helps them to see dirty politics on the clean and sophisticated play grounds that deny the so-called dirty slum dwellers.
Like the way Jesus overturned tables of corruption and politics in the temple, coaches like these ought to come out and overturn such tables that exist in sporting fora. A challenge / call to become Christs in such contexts.
God wants us to respond to the injustice that happens in the name of selection, where opportunities are grabbed from the vulnerable. Coaches like Naveen Moses, Shiva and Sridhar stand as role models for clearing or cleaning the real dirt.
Dirty playgrounds are not dirty but real playgrounds are dirty. Likewise slum dwellers are not dirty but the evil thoughts of sport culture.
It is easy to say "face the hurdles" which are seen on the ground but difficult to identify the unseen hurdles, this is where the sporting culture shambles. The stigma of dirtiness is labeled players. The politics surrounding it, builds boundaries and walls as hurdles. These walls restrict building relationship with people from different playgrounds too. God calls us to dirty ourselves by crossing these walls and boundaries. Uplifting players who are unseen, invisible are the ones who will bring India the much awaited Gold medals and accolades.
Prayer
Dear God, thank you for dirtying yourself to be with the dirty slum dwellers thank you for sending Christ like coaches to train them, As these coaches train them and struggle to find place for them be with them and lead them in the mighty name of Jesus Christ I pray Amen.
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Author: Sofia Christabel
About the Author: Sofia completed her bachelor of Divinity from the United Theological College, Bangalore. She is currently deputed to the United Basel Mission Ministries, Mumbai through Karnataka Southern Diocese.
