Field Vision

Football teams work like clockwork when it comes to training. Certain patterns rarely change once the players step onto the field.

Mobility. Prayer. Warm-up. Training session.

On 8th March, NorthEast United FC took the field for their Matchday minus one training session ahead of their clash against Punjab FC. Everything was going as a routine, until the rhythm broke for a moment.

As the players finished their mobility, one of the staff members’ phones buzzed. It was a call for Asheer Akhtar.

NorthEast United FC’s head coach, Juan Pedro Benali, aware of the situation, immediately understood what the call meant. It was clear that Asheer would not be boarding the flight to New Delhi with the team.

“Asheer, pray with us, and go,” Benali said as he embraced the defender.

Within minutes, Asheer was on his way to the hospital.

A few hours later, the good news arrived. Asheer and his wife had welcomed their second child, a baby boy. Both the mother and the child were healthy and doing well.

While the moment belonged to the family, the back-end of the team was already at work. The team manager was checking every possible flight to New Delhi.

Asheer had made it clear. He did not want to miss the game.

Later that evening, after the birth of his son, he boarded a flight and joined the squad.  The decision spoke volumes about his passion, responsibility, and commitment to the badge.

“I was over the moon with the arrival of our baby boy. Our son now has a younger brother, and our joy is boundless,” Asheer said, brimming with joy. 

“My wife, who has always supported me, was supportive this time as well. She asked me to join the team after our son was born, which made the decision easier for me,” Asheer said, before adding, “As one of the captains of the team, I knew I had another family waiting for me. I wanted to be there with the boys, so I decided to join the team after our son was born.”

On Monday, Asheer was named in the starting XI against Punjab FC.

When NorthEast United FC opened the scoring, goal-scorer Parthib Gogoi was quick to dedicate the goal to his teammate, a small moment that summed up the spirit inside the dressing room.

“It was a great gesture by Parthib and the team to dedicate the goal to the little one. It shows the bond this group has. Our son’s arrival will motivate us even more to go out there and get our first win of the season,” Akhtar added.

This Sunday, NorthEast United FC return home to play their first home game of the season against Jamshedpur FC. Asheer will be in the squad, as always. His family, who live in Guwahati, are regulars in the stands whenever the Highlanders play at home.

This time, however, there will be a small change.

Only Asheer’s father will be in the stands. The grandmother, the wife, and the elder son will all be at home and have already decided that they will be busy tending to the newest member of the family, cheering on Asheer from the television.

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