Kids do water break, Dads don't as the game goes to silver goal
The most controversial moment of the game came when a bunch of Kids requested a water break. To the astounded seasoned Dads this was like if Mohammed Ali (aka Cassius Clay in his previous life), in the middle of his fight with George Foreman, asked the ref to stop it because he fancied a cup of tea. Never in the history of Football Dads, it was ever felt that any break of any nature was needed.
There was no points for the Dads to veto it as they were outnumbered by Kids by a factor of two (14 v 7). At times democracy fails its very fathers…
Such an unprecedented move was like ‘cheese on maccheroni (or macaroni for those who think this is the right word)’ for the eager press who binged on it non-stop with catchy headlines like:
’Are Kids made of softer tissues than their Dads'?
‘Dads would have never done it even if the game was played in the desert or Evian had given them 10mn £ to sponsor it’
’This is enough to invalidate the game and redo a proper Kids selection!’
We’ll keep you updated on the consequences of this sensational event hoping that it will be classified as a youth mistake from which to learn.
As for the real game there were all the ingredients for a balanced, great game as it turned out to be. There were 21 players with no less than 5 Rookies, 4 of which captured in the picture: from left Pasquale, a fast runner from Naples which has become the capital of Italian football. Jonathan from Bologna recruited by his fellow citizen Gregorio. Kieran from Wales and Zac. The fifth is Bilaal from Pakistan.
The fact that none of these five countries is new is testament of our international footprint with no less than 72 Nations represented! And counting though the figure has stalled for few months.
This week promotion is that if you bring a new player from a new Nation you get the
traditional 100£ Amazon voucher. If you combine that with last week’s one, that is a Dad from a new Nation, you get 200£ as the prize is cumulative. No wonder Amazon share price keeps going up…
Yet again Tony L was the only goalkeeper (Alessandro where are you?) and he was immediately snatched by the Orange team who had the first move. This was a priceless move as Tony made countless save which at one point discouraged the Colours’ strikers, not least because they had to face the Orange wall made by Bijan, Matej and Joshua. Orange midfield and attack was ever mobile with each player comfortably in his twenties.
Colours knew right from the start that they had to put up a spirited performance to stand a chance: yet no bookmaker dared betting against such a squad who had in Johannes the pivotal player surrounded by the triumvirate of Hossam, Julian and Giancarlo and a bunch of youngsters keen to make a name for themselves and learn from the Masters of the game.
Colours were vulnerable in goal as they had to use a rotating goalkeeper and conceded an own goal in the early phase of the match and had to cope with the exuberant form of Ishan who scored a brace in rapid succession. But Johannes and Bilaal were able to counter: the latter was a breath of fresh air always going for a dribble and taking on any opponent on his right flank. Football dads and Kids are a welcome alternative to today’s games made of sides and back passes: this is exactly the reason why our fans are happy to pay premium price for a refreshing version of the beautiful game.
Colours were guilty of profligacy in front of goal where Giancarlo was not able to convert few favourable chances: yet he procured a penalty from one of his trademark corner (handball by Matej) which he refused to take having missed few of them. Yet again it was the youngest on the pitch, Arman, who stepped taking on his shoulder the double sword of facing his goalie Dad and the pressure to score.
The penalty was well taken, the keeper well beaten but the ball shaved the outside of right post.
The conflict of interest seemed evident to many and lips readers swear that Tony L uttered: ‘Arman, if you score no more Arsenal games!’
This was not the only instance Colours felt hard done: Matej handed the ball for the second time and the players circled the ref at once brandishing an imaginary red card, only to be told to keep playing. Matej instead was in a double-whammy mode as he avoided the sanction and received offers from undisclosed volley teams.
The subsequent goal by Karim and Zac still left Colours’ trailing at the 11.45 mark sending the two teams to the golden goal.
There was hardly the time for the fans to come back to the stands that Gregorio, who spent the game sacrificing himself in front of defence, scored the golden goal with an accurate shot. As not every fan had been able to watch it and few fans were ready to ask for a refund, it was decide to play on for a silver goal. It was the right decision rewarded by a beautiful goal, courtesy of Bijan who sent a fast ball, slightly deflected, into the opposite corner giving the goalkeeper no chance whatsoever.
Before this Bijan was worth of a short selection for the Man of Match award along with Ishan and Bilaal. The silver goal propelled him top of the list underling the fact that defenders who can defend and score consistently are a rare commodity in today’s game. Unless you are a Football Dad!
ORANGE-COLOURS 5-4
GOALS
ORANGE: Ishan (2), Johannes (og), Zac, Bijan
COLOURS: Johannes, Bilaal, Karim, Gregorio
TAEMS
ORANGE: Tony L, Bijan, Matei, Joshua, Federico, Ishan, Jonathan sr, Zac, Adam B, Marco M
COLOURS: Giancarlo, Hossam, Julian, Johannes, Pasquale, Kieran, Jonathan jr, Gregorio, Karim, Anton K, Arman