Kick-Off

EIGHT STORIES THAT CHAMPION THE SPIRIT OF A SPORT LIKE NO OTHERA young footballer struggles to make his mark even as he fights, the ruthless exploitation of local football clubs, his family s strained financial circumstances and the humiliation of being the son of a man accused of deliberately throwing a winning goal in a long-ago match. A veteran player with an eclectic record prepares to play the final game of his career. A former star footballer battling grave illness relives the days of exhilarating wins and frustrating rivalries that sustain his spirit. And, on a turf slightly removed from the football field, a sportsman s obsession over justice being done to a wronged fellow player leads him into penury. Featuring the acclaimed novellas Striker and Stopper, and all of Moti Nandy s football-related short stories, this collection captures the heady highs and crushing lows, the heroism and the ignominy of sport.