The art of dribbling

I am usually an early riser but my weekends at home are easy, relaxed and begin later than usual. The first thing I do every morning when I wake up is some basic stretches for flexibility, which is very essential for a footballer. This habit spills into the weekends as well.

When I am home, I begin my morning with a big jar of milk along with some scrambled eggs and make sure that my breakfast is complete with all the proteins I need. More than home food, I love Continental food and my mother is great at making just about any Continental dish. So I am lucky that I get to taste some of her experimental cooking which includes chicken dishes, grilled food and salads (all Continental style). I have a sweet tooth but try and stay away from eating too much of it. I do have my cheat days when it comes to eating whatever I like but I stick to a healthy diet.

Weekends are also when I get to spend time at my PlayStation. The games usually involve only one person and I enjoy them because the various aspects of the games sharpen my mind. The games help in team building and chalking out strategies to strengthen and take the team forward. I have a large collection of games. All the shooting, firing and chasing involved in these games still excite me.  Listening to music is another one of my favourite pastimes. It could be anything from hip-hop to reggae.

Fast and racy music works well for me, especially when I am at the gym. I also have very specific choices when it comes to buying books. Autobiographies of successful people interest me and I also enjoy watching documentaries of sports legends. Their life journeys inspire me to no end.

Sometimes, I also catch up with friends for coffee, watch movies or go bowling. Sometimes, we also do lunch at a sushi restaurant. Short treks and trips to a few places in and around the city is also one of the many things I do over a weekend.

I adopted my pet dog Cleo from the streets a few years ago and she has been with us since. She is very affectionate but never gets too demanding. She gives me my space but I make sure I play with her whenever I am home.

I’ve always grown up playing some kind of sport. Although football has become a big part of my life, I take time off to play either badminton or table tennis with some of my friends. This not only ensures that I play a different kind of sport but also gives me my fair share of exercise. When my family and friends go shopping over the weekend, I also join them sometimes and shop mostly for sneakers. As my job involves a lot of work with my feet, I make sure to buy the right footwear.

I don’t plan my career too much in advance but I do spend time analysing my work. I have my priorities and try to stay positive at all times and not get stressed out.
This helps me focus better and work towards achieving my goals.