Football Mad Nation

The fever began last week on a fateful Friday night. Watched the glorious opening with traditional music and colorful costumes of the Germans as if I've entered the stadium through the projector TV at Modestos. It was a great match, the Germans played extremely well and Costa Ricans deserves the credits too. Matched ended with a 4-2 and of course the German won in style.

Saw in the papers yesterday that a couple got married on the day itself as their story has got something to do with football. I have a little love story myself which started because of football but I'm not sharing it now LOL...

I remember back when I was younger I was very enthusiatic about football. I would watch almost all the matches on EPL and Seria A regardless of the time and etc. I used to have posters on the entire wall of my bedroom with football stars and images of boots on it. I still have them on my door now LOL... Then it's a must to buy "Match" the magazine after school twice a month at an indian stall near Atria. I have no idea why I was so crazy then but all I know is I love the game and I want to play in it. Spent some of my PE time running and chasing the ball with some good malay guy friends of mine... It was fun and memorable.

Back in college we were asked to write an article/essay about a metaphor of something and how it inspire your life. I have chosen Bill Shankly's famous quote "Football is not about life and death, it is more important than that". I wrote an article about how football influence the lives of many and the inspiration behind it. During the presentation I played the song by "Queen" - We are the Champions the lecturer didn't seems too impress because she didn't understand the beauty of the game. I remember shedding tears when the song was played on a Champions League final. The atmosphere was very touching and it struck my emotional state of mind.

The funniest moment I have experienced was when I worked part time at F.O.S. - 1U. The matches are at hours when I have to work. So I sneaked to Jusco Electrical Department stood there and watched the match with the excuse of going to toilet most of the time. Colleague saw me doing it and they did the same. Finally the supervisor found out about it and limited the times we can go for toilet breaks LOL...

I might not know every single thing about football even admit that I can't even differentiate a winger from a midfielder or who plays for what comes from where and etc. but I love the game! It's an inspiration that reflects lives which we do not notice sometimes. Why we like watching 20 men chasing a ball? 2 standing on guard? One without the passion for the game will never understand that... How about trying to see the Brazilian play as an art of movement an art of people and the things we can do...

Hope that everyone will enjoy this great moment in 2006... It's a beautiful game...