The Story Of How Football Helped A Pint-Sized Boy Overcome His Bullies
There is much we can learn from kids.
Published for Sponsored , 02 Mar 2015, 12:14 PM
Owen Teo hated playing football when he first kicked the ball at 6 years old
It wasn't a fun game when you are a pint-sized kid getting pushed around by "giants"
"I didn't like it at the start, because my size didn't compare to anyone else, and I thought I had no chance to play with others. They were like giants when I was small. I'd always be pushed around and I would never be able to play properly."
Yet he would not let the bullies break him. Owen focused on improving his football skills so he can one day challenge his bullies on the pitch fair and square, even if it meant waiting patiently for a growth spurt.
"I tried to stand up for myself but I realised he (the bully) was much bigger. So, I just let him keep on with the bully. He kept bullying me, it's okay. The next year, we played football against each other, that is when we became the same height, that is when we got to play football equally."
While he was practising and waiting to grow as tall as his bullies, Owen realised that size doesn't matter. "It's how you play and how you cooperate with the team."
A tour into Owen's room will obviously show that he grew to love the sport with a burning passion
He practised to be good enough until he was selected out of 2,000 children to participate in a football camp overseas with 1MCC coaches
Papa Owen also once gifted him a pair of tortoise as a reward for winning a game
"I'm very proud of you Owen, go and chase after your dream (of playing football)," Papa Owen said, his eyes gleaming with love, support and encouragement
Little Owen may be young, but he is already chasing after the footsteps of his idol, Cristiano Rolando (CR7). Watch his journey here: