Learning life lessons through football
Shahram is upset. The scene has been playing over in his mind all day. Now he is tired after a long day at work and his emotions finally get the better of him. “I am so depressed,” he says. “I still can’t believe they lost.” The match between Iran and Mexico – Iran’s debut game in the World Cup – was a disaster. After holding off Mexico to a one-all draw in the first half, Iran’s game fell apart in the second and they ended play 3-1 down. Shahram is, like many in Iran, devastated. He still supports the Iranian team, but Brazil is his favourite. But for the final outcome he has bigger dreams. “I wish a poor country like Ivory Coast could win the World Cup. It would make the children there so happy.” Shahram and his family came to Iran from Afghanistan five years ago. Although he is only 12 years old, he seems much older. He spends his days working as a tailor’s assistant, which leaves little time for playing, going to school or watching the World Cup on television. Shahram attends school two hours a day along with about 200 other Afghan children. Classes are held in a three-room building in southern Tehran rented by a local NGO, the Society for Protection of Street Children and Child Labourers. Shahram is inspired by players like Samuel Eto'o and Ronaldinho, who came from poor families and bad conditions. “Now not only can they provide for their families, but they can help others too,” he says. Football has also taught him some important lessons. “In football you cooperate with your teammates in order to achieve a goal,” he says. “You can see that Iran’s loss was because of a lack of cooperation.” One day, when the situation in Afghanistan is good enough for Shahram’s family to return, he hopes to play for the Afghan national team. In the meantime, he and his brother will continue to huddle in front of the TV screen, eat pumpkin seeds and dream. “I forget all my troubles when I’m watching football,” says this little boy with big hopes. “I can’t imagine how it would feel to be a professional footballer. I dream about it every night.”
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