Dario's knee get tested hard in a tough, dusty evening match
There is much to like about playing football in the early evening after a summer working day. The light is warmer, the temperature is falling rather than rising, and (added bonus) you can park in the Royal Borough without paying a penny.
Other than that, certain things never change: whenever FDs take to the pitch, it’s business as usual: high-speed, high-octane football, fierce tackles, plenty of shouting, controversial refereeing decisions, and a plethora of goals.
Yesterday’s match saw sixteen players determined to give at their best, despite the heat and a hard, dry, pitch that now resembles a savannah, with very little grass and holes so big that you wouldn’t be surprised to see a warthog jumping out of one of them.
While battling such a poor surface, the players could at least enjoy a brand new ball, courtesy of Bijan.
The official ball of the Premier League season has already been tested by the likes of Erling Haaland and Bruno Fernandes, but it remained to be seen how it would respond to the delicate touches and thunderous strikes of the FDs. Puma executives, present on the pitch for the occasion, were understandably anxious, but ultimately pleased with the result.
Still euphoric after having a new law named after him, Yuv arrived accompanied by two wingmen: rookie Arun and Aris (left and right in the top photo). Two strong players that we hope to see more often.
Adam played the entire match shirtless, a decision that puzzled pundits, who were unsure whether it was a response to the extreme heat, or an attempt to intimidate his opponents and ensure nobody dared mark him close. Whatever the reason, he had a very good match, and I am obliged to put on record that he scored two goals (he made me an offer I couldn’t refuse to ensure I mentioned that).
The most dramatic moment came in the second half, when Yuv and Dario’s knees collided. The Italian fell to the ground, screaming in pain, with everyone fearing the worst. After a minute or two, however, Dario was back on his feet and resume playing as if nothing had happened. Supernatural powers at work?
A surreal episode occurred shortly afterwards. A mysterious individual entered the pitch, instead of going around it, and slowly made his way from one goal to the other.
With his enigmatic expression, improbable outfit and dreamlike, unsettling walk, he looked as though he had stepped out of a David Lynch film, such as the disturbing woodsman from Twin Peaks The Return.
Undeterred, players carried on kicking ball, but I’d rather not think about the kind of cosmic wrath that might have descended upon us had someone accidentally hit him!
ORANGES-COLOURS 6-8 (or something like that)
ORANGE
Francesco, Alessandro, Hossam, Yuv, Arun, Al, Jonathan, and more
COLOURS
Andrea, Bijan, Dario, Adam, Aris, Nizar and more