Al and Diego on ‘fuego’
Finally a spell of good weather welcomed the players whose number has lately stabilised at around eight a side which is ideal to get the happy medium between getting constantly engaged and never seeing the ball.
Competing at this level does of course require supreme fitness and relentless stamina as the pace is frantic and the players’ attitude uncompromising: the sheer addiction to victory is what unites these souls. While these matches are prohibitive for the average professional footballer, it is just par for the course for FDs and FKs who staged another thrilling game.
In a moment when football icons like Match of the Day are being savaged by politics the whole community is even more reliant on FDs to keep delivering the goods to the wider audience and being a beacon of liberal and nail- biting football. Needless to say we will naturally turn down any inevitable offer to present the next MOTD for many obvious reasons.
There were some notable comeback on the pitch, namely Branko and his son Diego. The senior player started off a la Pirlo in front of defence but soon adopted a Maldini type of play as he saw a sweet spot on the left where he formed a winning pair with Al who produced one of the best games of his young career.
The Bibs had a Verstappen type of start while the Colours deployed a more contemplative strategy. Khaled and Yousuf held the strings in midfield and let the Bibs to a fast and comfortable lead. Some lowly- rated critics suggested the Bibs’ bonanza was facilitated by Giancarlo’s presence in the Colours’ goal. Khaled shots were in fact strong and accurate though always aimed at the right post: anyway toward the end the Italian was able to deny him three consecutive times. All of a sudden criticism turned into adulation. Such is football.
On the opposite front Francesco was kept on dry powder by the double act Hannes-Bijan while Diego enjoyed more freedom, finding himself often in front of goal few times but was either profligate or denied by the ever decisive Paride.
The game badly needed a rebalance and the late arrival of Mohammed was exactly what the doctor ordered to relaunch the Colours and the match itself.
Among the Bibs worth noting the growing stature of young Arman who was wearing the Neymar Jr shirt for a reason: he received a ball and with a back-heel flick freed up his mate behind him like he had eyes in the back. Investing in the Academy has always been the CLUB priority and we can now say it is money well spent.
Invigorated by Mohammad presence the Colours looked like a different team with Al punishing them from the left and Diego finally finding accuracy and timing: the pair scored a total of seven goals and put the finishing touch on the game fixing the overall score at 9-6 for the Colours.
The golden goal looked like a matter of few minutes for the Colours to seal it in style with the only doubt being the scorer. In fact the Bibs, incessantly supported by their fans, found pride and geometry to put Yousuf in front of the Colours goal and score with a deft touch.
Al and Diego were the most obvious candidates for the Man of the Match award. The blond striker just needs to be more clinical and cynical in front of goal, something that comes with age and mistakes. He will no doubt soon compete
with Haaland for the golden boot having the advantage to have to cope with the toughest defenders around. Al instead converted everything thrown at him and also participate in the build up of the game deserving to take home the much coveted trophy.
COLOURS-BIBS 9-7
GOALS
COLOURS: Al (4), Diego (3), Johannes, Mohammad.
BIBS: Khaled (4), Yousuf (3)
TEAMS
COLOURS: Giancarlo, Thomas, Branko, Johannes, Mohammad, Francesco, Diego, Al
BIBS: Paride, Andre’, Hannes, Bijan, Julien, Khaled, Yousuf, Amar
Write up by Giancarlo
Photo by Tony L