The District Cup

MY THOUGHTS

For a few years now, I have been a true-blue soccer mom. I spend weekdays driving my boys to football class, maintain a calendar of football tournaments to play and watch on TV and spend every waking moment listening to them talk about football. So, when this book came into our universe, I knew it would be well-appreciated. I underestimated how much they would love it. Giggles (10) declared this was his all-time fave book. Gurgles (7) is reading it for the third time. Fun fact: they think the book is dedicated to them. Turns out the author and I thought of the same names for our kids!

The District Cup is the story of a small-town football team that is trying to make it despite all odds. The Maulsari Eagles, a U-13 team, is a motley crew of kids. From team captain Prithvi to the newest entrant Mangya — each one of the players is grappling with a problem that tries to hold them back from playing their favourite game. But together they need to face the Zubair Strikers team that has players way above the age of 13 and has successfully managed to escape being caught because of their friends in the right places. 

Author Mallika Ravikumar highlights the age-fraud controversy plaguing Indian sports. She showcases a symbiotic universe where sports associations, corrupt officials, and influential sports teams coexist and how talent suffers. It is so obvious she loves the game because her attention to detail when it comes to football terminology and technique was wonderful to read. The last few chapters keep you on the edge of your seat, and you find yourself cheering for the Eagles, praying their massive plan is successful and rooting for the underdogs. Everyone loves a good story, and this one has a lot of heart. If you are a parent of a budding sports star, get your child this book. The goal (pun intended!) is to read it, cherish it, and treasure it for years to come.