He lost his beloved father at the tender age of four and took more than a decade to come out of the “grief” that engulfed him describes Russell Carl Nair’s long and tough journey. That was his first journey.
Now the 16-year-old Form Four student of SM St Francis in Melaka has embarked on a second journey – a journey he is not going to give up in pursuit of his dreams to be a top professional footballer (goalkeeper) and to help his family.
Russell is now more matured to understand the pain that befell him 12 years ago and is ready to make the sacrifices – knowing that the journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.
“I did not know or felt the loss of my dad significantly than but as I journeyed on I began to miss him much.”
Russell is lucky that his maternal grandparents and paternal grandfather Murugan Nair have been an inspiration to him, helping him out financially during trying times.
His grand aunty from Australia Indira Culmsee has been providing financial assistance from the time of the sudden demise of his father.
“However, I cannot depend on them for the rest of my life as they are also growing old. As the son, I have to take care of my mother, my sister Rebecca and my brother Ryan,” said Russell.
His world came crashing when his father Ravi Nair passed away of a heart attack at the age of 32. Although he was only four years old his father’s untimely death still haunts him.
Russell just closed up. He was vulnerable and confused but he can now really go there and deal with it, 12 years after his father’s death.
After his father’s demise, Russell and his siblings, together with his mother Catherine De Mello, moved back to the Portuguese Settlement in Melaka to stay with his maternal grandparents. Thus began the journey of uncertainty for Russell.
Football, however, is his love and he is determined to make a career out of the game. He honed his football skills playing against the adults and friends at the community field at the Portuguese Settlement.
Call him a born footballer. Well built and with a good physique Russell was soon making a name for himself by playing in the Melaka League One where his team Gerakan FC finished third this year.
Russell – whose idols are world class goalkeepers David Gea and Iker Casillas – did catch the eye of the selectors and was called up for selection to the Malaysian Under 13 squad at the Gambang Sports School in 2015.
As it was a new environment at Gambang he felt homesick as this was his first time leaving home thus he requested for a withdrawal. Meanwhile, in 2016, Russell walked away with the Best Goalkeeper (Under-15) and was selected to represent the Melaka Schools Sports Council (MSSM) Under-15 squad but he turned it down because he did not want to be separated from his family.
He also withdrew from the Allianz Junior Football Camp. Russell was again named as the Best Goalkeeper for the Southern Zone in this tournament in 2017. The fear of leaving home at a young age again got the better of him.
“Now I have matured. I don’t fear leaving home anymore. I am willing to take on the challenges to aspire in pursuit of my ambition to be a professional footballer,” says Russell, who like many who lost a parent at a young age think.
Parents, we all know, can hurt. But losing them hurts more. The hurt is there and Russell is no exception. It is how one handles it makes the difference.
Russell has become stronger, as a result, saying that losing a loved one gave him a greater appreciation of family relationships.
With a height of 186 cm and good physique, Russell has all the ingredients to be a top-class goalkeeper.
“I know if I want to be a better player, in pursuit of my ambition, I need to move on to higher levels,” says a much wiser Russell.Ā RIZAL ABDULLAHĀ
