I fell in love with the sport long ago, way before I was able to stand and play. I tend to credit my grandmother for this life-long affair.
In playing and watching soccer, I learned so much about life.
Fan Life:
My very first lesson was: it is about the long run, not instant gratifications. I learned to celebrate a tie. There was not a need for a clear winner.
I learned to appreciate the efforts of one player as well as those of a team. I recognized the importance of teamwork, and its beauty when every player stuck to a game plan. There were many lessons about loyalty and belonging. Those are experiences shared by most soccer fans.
Player:
The other side to soccer and its wise lessons was playing. I lost myself the second a ball touched my feet. I saw the whole pitch; it became my world.
Winning required playing as a team and catering to each player’s strength, even the ball hogs. Plus, you had to study the other team and understand their strengths and weaknesses.
There were times when the fastest player on our team had to change positions to cover the fastest player on the opposing team.
In all of this, we never really cared for much. We didn’t care for labels, family names, social status, or education. We were all equals on the pitch, and it was the skill and talent that did the talking. It was about cooperation.
Favorites
My favorite soccer clubs are:
El Ahly, Egypt
Barcelona, Spain
Manchester United, England
Liverpool, England (Yes, it is because of Moe Salah)
