Bending it like Anai Mogini: shatter stereotypes, dream big

In footballing parlance the shot is called “dry leaf”, one of the most magnificent marvels in the beautiful game, and the skill is so special even the vintage Latin American style, regarded as the most aesthetic one, reveres it as a wonder. 

Eduardo Galeano, arguably the greatest poetic writer of football, described the brilliance of the style which many claimed was invented by Didi, a member of the legendary Brazil team and player of the tournament in 1958 World Cup.

The profile of Didi’s foot used to alleviate and spin the ball, which he used to adorably call as "she" from the ground.

She would continue spinning on the fly, dancing about the changing direction like a dry leaf carried by the wind, until she flew between the posts precisely where the goalkeeper least expected.

Modern spectators were mesmerized with the skill when Brazilian great Ronaldinho bamboozled English goalkeeper David Seaman in World Cup 2002 to score a goal by a "dry leaf".  

Far from Latin America, farthest from the spotlight of global football, in the most hinterland of the game South Asia - U-19 girls were fighting for the regional supremacy when a similar goal occurred.

One may definitely laugh away the bizarre comparison of Didi or Ronaldinho’s goal with that of Anai Mogini, a 19-year old Bangladeshi girl.

And there is no match with World Cup and a regional age-level tournament, but Mogini’s shot can be praised and celebrated for the reasons which carry profound significance beyond the boundary. 

The television camera straightaway panned to a jubilant spectator and the significance of that goal could be comprehended with that very image.

A bearded man with religious cap (tupi) on his head was hoisting the national flag with sheer exuberance. 

That would be shocking for the people who want to portray the complex culture of the society as a linear "clash of civilization" type narrative and stigmatize the "identity" with symbols.

For them, a religious person only possesses anti-football, anti-girls and anti-nationalist feeling and the single image shatter that naïve and most dangerous dogma.

But the shattering of stereotype was not confined in that image only, or not even with the outrageous support from a full-gallery.

Goalscorer Mogini along with her captain Maria Manda, twin Anuching and few others hail from hill tracts area.

The extreme nationalism wants to annihilate their identity, ignore the diversity and often even derogate them with the terms like "upojati" (sub-nation).

Forget the political insurgence, the social pressure and other impediments like learning multiple languages to get education is insurmountable. 

Yet the success of Moginis should not dazzle one’s eyes.

On the contrary, it perhaps shows a bleak picture of our society.

These girls come to football because they come from the lower tier of social background and the girls are still not allowed in most of the other societies.

Like their peers in myriad of beauty parlors in the country, they are in a sense energetic, eager to establish in the mainstream and being exploited as "cheap labor", or "others". 

That is also true for their Bengali spoken comrades as their struggles are no less by any means.

Despite the eulogies that will be written for them being South Asian champions the social situations of female footballers are still in shambles. 

It was seen in many occasions girls were married at a tender age, even trophy winning girls died of illness as the poor family could not afford treatment and the Football Federation, who never fails to boast those trophies, hardly cared. 

And players were socially bullied and harassed even in the team bus when they were sent home after winning. 

Mogini’s goal will not act as a magic wand to abolish all the malice.

Yet, it is a significant step for the struggle of girls and footballers and the fight against social dogmas. 

Let’s take an example of Akhi Khatun, one of the most reliable and experienced players in the side.

Akhi, the stout looking defender not only kept clean sheets throughout the tournament but also ensured her intimidating presence with impressive skill and physique.

But back in 2013, when this correspondent met 11-year old Akhi, she was a feeble child ravaged with severe malnutrition.

She was just 4 feet 1 inch but when she joined football camps and was provided proper diet and facilities, within a couple of years she became almost a 5 feet 6 inch tall and well built footballer. 

The girl from Sirajganj proved better diet, regime, training and proper education is the key for any person to grow.

Talent is only a myth and one can bloom only when those facilities are provided. 

And it is true for each and every person in the country.

The U-19 girls are somewhat lucky to get the facilities, which albeit are far from being ideal.

Still they lack many facilities that would further enhance their skills.

But let us recall the Mogini goal once again.

It was a text-book team goal.

The ball was intercepted near the center and as many as seven passes were interchanged.

Shaheda Akter Ripa, the player of the tournament, an amazing winger with brilliant skills, showed her intelligence and dexterity when she made a neat back-heel for Mogini to launch the ball that she may call as an untamed "He". 

Those intricate passes, the amazing skills showcased by the young ladies throughout the match and above all the magic goal of Mogini were almost screaming on behalf and to each and every girl of the country, "We can do it, we can be the best, if we are given opportunity."

In footballing sense Mogini’s goal may have very little significance but it was a magic moment, a wonderful key that would unleash innumerable dreams. 

The dreams of bending it like Mogini.

The dream of conquering the world.