Cheemeni (Kasaragod): Victories often change the destiny of sportspersons. K P Rahul, a member of the Kerala football team which won the Santosh Trophy for the state after 14 years, expects his life will change for the better soon.
"You need not toil anymore, father. All our hardship will end," Rahul had told his father Ramesan. The family still lives in a one-room house at Munda, Cheemeni village, in Kasaragod, the northernmost district in the state. The house was built on a small plot allotted by the government.
The family, comprising Ramesan, his wife Thankamani, and daughter Rasna, has been dreaming of a good house as well as a bright future for the young members for long.
Rahul had shown talent for football even while very young and his father encouraged him copiously. A daily wage labourer, Ramesan did all he could to help his son pursue his love for the game. As a child, Rahul started to kick around the ball on the panchayat ground, Kalikadavu, near his birthplace at Peelicode.
Rahul, the footballer, came to the limelight when he played in the Subroto Cup Under-17 championship held in Delhi when he was in the sixth standard. There has been no looking back since then.
The family, comprising Ramesan, his wife Thankamani, and daughter Rasna, has been dreaming of a good house as well as a bright future for the young members for long.Shining as a defender in the midfield, Rahul's style of grabbing the ball from the opponents and making a dash to their goalpost is exceptional. Sticking to this style, Rahul won many matches for local sides.
During this time, the family had to leave their ancestral house where they had been living and moved to a small house they built on land allotted by the state government at Munda. The house was built with money borrowed from many people and Ramesan found it hard to make both ends meet.
Meanwhile, he was diagnosed with a heart disease, which made things more difficult. However, even amidst all the problems they faced, Rahul's father continued to encourage him. Thankamni also saw a bright future for their son.
When Rahul was selected for the Kerala Santosh trophy team, their joy knew no bounds. They were proud that their son had reached the top level.
The family's happiness multiplied when Kerala won the 2017-18 edition of the Santosh Trophy, Many came to their house to congratulate the family. Some burst firecrackers. All those who loved Rahul celebrated.
However, causing bitterness among Rahul's family members, nobody representing the government has visited them so far. Even the panchayat members failed to turn up, they said.
Meanwhile, the local residents of Peelicode have decided to give the champion a grand reception when he reaches his native place.
