The story of a band of youngsters growing up playing the Beautiful Game on the soccer-fertile grounds of Kerala, and their eventual self-exile looking for work and opportunities across the globe, and their return to pay respects to the fallen among them and to confront a torment that had haunted them throughout their lives, against the backdrop of World Cup tournaments and the political turmoil from the late 1980s through the early 2020s.
A Small River Island
Under cover of darkness on the Periyar River, Abbas secretly follows Punnoose, driven by years of resentment.
A Surreal Run-in on El Camino Real
After watching Brazil play at Stanford Stadium during the 1994 World Cup, Thomas encounters a legendary footballer on an ordinary California street.
About the Author
Author bio for Thomas Theakanath.
About the Novel
A concise introduction to Sevens.
Contact
Media, readings, interviews, and rights inquiries.
Dashed Dreams
Excerpt from the chapter Dashed Dreams.
Lay Down Life in Lusail
On a flight from Doha to Kochi, Thomas unexpectedly meets a man who knows his missing friend Abbas.
Lost in Los Gatos
In Bombay, a young Thomas attends an unlikely job interview that opens the door to a life far beyond Kerala.
Out of the Shade
Roger Milla steps onto the field against Romania at the 1990 World Cup and creates a moment that will become part of football history.
Sevens Season 1990
Kairali Club and AAA meet in a fiercely contested tournament match, with their bitter rivalry coming down to a penalty shootout.