Defending champions took the cup again, it was an

enchanting match full of

excitement. This is Williams reporting from...”

It wasn’t just a football match for me. It was a lesson indeed. The game within a clutch of 90 minutes had taught me what I hadn’t realised till then. I had untangled the mystifying tangles of life. I learnt that life is a beautiful game.

The football match ended, yet the romance of the game hadn’t gone from my thoughts. The players reminded me of their passion towards the game. Although, after some days I may forget who the winner was, but their technique shall always tingle my senses with delight. I learnt that we have to live, not survive!

Death is fated, so we should not let ourselves die before our heart actually stops.

Players running after the ball simply mean that we have to run after our ambitions and objectives. The dribbling, dodging and strikes are equivalent to the ways we follow to achieve our aim. One failure does not end our life, we have to be optimistic and never restrain ourselves from setting our heart on the goal again.

A beautiful goal is judged on its complexities, intricacies and how well planned it is. Similarly, to get the best in our life, we have to face challenges. These are just part of our life. We have to face them. Fear of striking should never stop us from playing the game.

There are always ups and downs in life. The fluctuating and volatile times make us insecure and depressed. If another team makes a goal, then there is no time to be mean to them. Getting yellow card or red card are consequences of playing unfair. In a game we have to live up to others expectations. The players in the field don’t just think about themselves but of those hearts that support and pray for them. They are playing for their fans. This is how we have to live, for others, to put a smile on others faces with our success.

Life may not be a 90-minute game, yet the uncertainties of life makes each minute worth more than the time we have ever thought of. We have to live our life in the best possible way by making best of what life can offer us. We have to make this life meaningful and significant.

I realised that we are the responsible players of a beautiful game called life.

— Asmita Rokaya, Class X, Budhanilkantha School