The Beautiful Game: A Dream Deferred

I still remember the countless hours, i spent on the football field as a kid, dreaming of becoming a professional player. The thrill of scoring a goal, the rush of adrenaline as I sprinted down the wing, and the sense of camaraderie with my teammates it all felt so exhilarating. I was convinced that I was destined for greatness, that I would one day don the jersey of my national team and score goals that would be remembered for generations. 

But life had other plans.

As I grew older, injuries began to creep in. The occasional tweak became a regular occurrence, and I found myself spending more time on the sidelines than on the field. My parents, who had always been supportive of my passion, started to voice their concerns. "Focus on your studies, son," they'd say. "football will come after you've finished your education." there was one time in primary 5 i got injury that lead to the dislocation of my wrist bone on my right hand side and i spend the next 65 days using my left hand in some different activities like eating and writing in class which was the hard part of it cause it was my first time using the left hand in writing but i adapted. but that's not all sometimes i got recurrence of the injuries i got in the past like in both ankles, both knees, hips and sometimes the back and the shoulder when i try to deadlift some weights in the gym.

I tried to balance both studies and football but it was tough. The pressure to perform academically was mounting, and I found myself sacrificing my training sessions for late-night study and exam prep. My parents were right, of course education is important but my heart wasn't in it. I was going through the motions, playing football because I loved it, but also because I didn't know what else to do. But the injuries persisted, and the doubts began to creep in. Was I good enough? Should I really be pursuing this dream? The more I thought about it, the more I lost my passion for the game. I started to feel like I was just going through the motions, pretending to be something I wasn't. And most of the time when some club made their trials i would be in class or having exams on that day or in that week.

And then, one day, when i finished ordinary level, i realized that I just didn't care anymore. The thought of playing football, of running onto the field, of scoring goals, felt hollow. I quit the team, and my parents were relieved. "Focus on your studies," they said again. "You'll find something else you're passionate about." but that did make me leave the school team, after 2 years i got my first call up and i wasn't sure about how i will perform but when the talent is in you i can't go anywhere. i performed on my usual level, i give assist to the winning goal which sends us to the final but we lost 2 null.  

Final school match

As it turns out, they were right. and a part from football, i had always dabbled in art, and drawing was something I loved doing in my free time. I would spend hours sketching out characters, landscapes, and scenes from my favorite games and movies. But whenever I showed my work to friends and family, the feedback was lukewarm. "You're good, but why bother?" they'd say. "It's not a stable career path." The lack of enthusiasm from those around me sucked the motivation out of me, and I slowly stopped drawing altogether. 

one of the frictional drawings.

It was a pattern I was all too familiar with. Just like football, my passion for drawing fizzled out due to a lack of support and encouragement. I wonder what would've happened if people had believed in me, if they'd pushed me to keep going even when it got tough.

SP station in frame at night.

But life went on, and I discovered new passions. I picked up a camera, and photography became my new outlet. I started capturing moments, telling stories through images, and it felt amazing. I even started doing graphic design, merging my love for art and technology to create visually stunning pieces. It's been a game-changer for me, allowing me to express myself in ways I never thought possible. 

https://www.instagram.com/k.taoufik_/reel/C3CSJ6mIv5K/

I'm in university now, studying mass media, and I'm determined to make a name for myself in the industry. Photography, graphic design. I still take photos, design when I can. And you know what? I feel alive.

Tour du Rwanda 2023.

Mt. Rebero

Masdjid Al-Fatha.

Kigali City upside-down poster.

Sometimes, I think about what could have been. Maybe I would've made it to the semi-pros, maybe I would've scored that winning goal in a championship game. But the truth is, I don't know if I would've been happy. Maybe the injuries would've gotten worse, maybe the pressure would've consumed me.

Balancing Ball on head.

All I know is that I'm happy now. I'm doing something I love, something that brings me peace and fulfillment. And if that means I'll never be a professional football player or a renowned artist, that's okay. I've found new beautiful games, ones that I'm excited to play for the rest of my life.