 Some of the Lotus team had never been to Manchester |
The Lotus seed usually plants itself in murky and uncertain conditions. But, if it is lucky enough to get enough light, it grows into a beautiful plant.
The definition is not too dissimilar to Jabel Khan, who plays for an east London football team which shares its name with the flower so revered in East Asia.
Khan's parents wanted him to go into law or business but his passion is football, not academia.
"I was hanging around with the wrong sort of people, who were breaking into schools to play football and vandalising," said Khan.
That was until a chance encounter with Bala Arumugum, the manager of Lotus FC, who qualified for the Your Game final in Manchester as Fair Play winners at the East London event in Leyton in June.
 | If it wasn't for the coach, I would be breaking into someone's house |
"When the coach saw me playing, he invited me to come and play at the club," said Khan. "I was really quiet to start with as I was really unsure of myself and how other people would be with me.
"But the coach taught me I had to speak up and ask for the ball. Playing football has given me loads of confidence."
This new-found assurance has given Khan the impetus to help others achieve their football aspirations.
He said: "I want to be a football coach. The certificate in community sports, which Your Game has paid for me to do, has helped me on the way. Now, I want to take level two and level three coaching.
"I want to help other kids, so they have that chance that I didn't have when I was young. I tell you, if it wasn't for the coach, I would be breaking into someone's house."
 The action was intense on the pitch |
The majority of Lotus FC players have not had many chances to play in organised football tournaments, so when they qualified for the Your Game final, they ensured they made the most of every moment.
"I didn't bring anyone who is already playing in a league or has had the chance to play before," said Lotus manager Arumugum. "I've picked the players who will get the most out of it."
Lotus FC are drawn from the diverse South Asian community in East London, so Bangledeshi Muslims, Pakistanis, Tamil Indian mix with Tamil Sri Lankan Hindu as well as Sri Lankan Christians.
And according to Arumugum, it's quite a feat to have them all in the same team.
"People know about the barriers there are for Asians to get into football from outside their community but there are also barriers within their own community and it's been great to see both barriers broken down."
Your Game is a partnership between the BBC and Football Foundation supported by Barclays Spaces for Sports.
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BBC East Midlands report from final
