Nizar just too hot to handle in a vibrant, rare 11 a side match
There is so much going on with Football Dads these days that you could write a full commentary before the game even starts.
For example, why was Francesco not playing today? Well, officially he was injured after his monster game last Saturday. That looked plain and simple until some (fake?) news went viral about a Saudi offer.
As always the CLUB refrained from any comment but a couple of considerations make full sense: first, Francesco is far too young to consider such a retirement career move better suited to players on a declining path like CR7. Secondly, he is not a free agent and analysts have figured out that any oil-related counterpart won’t be able to afford him until the oil price trebles from current levels. So there is every chance Francesco will resume his duties on Saturday much to the delight of the FDs community.
On a different off-the-pitch issue Chairman Hossam yet again called for punctuality. While we passionately share the mantra ‘what happens in the boardroom stays in the boardroom’, it is nevertheless only fair to share just among us current raging debates involving players.
Hossam within the board represents the hawkish fringe who is lobbying to introduce draconian measures: any player late to the game should swim a lap of the Serpentine for every 10’ delay with a cap of three rounds. Besides the Egyptian wants also to introduce qualifying times in line with Olympics performances. The dovish faction, while agreeing with the principle, more moderately propose a swim across the pond with the target to outperform ducks, to start with. The debate is hot: what is for sure is that tough times are coming for late comers: they should harry up or start booking swimming lessons.
As for the reason the players turned up, that is the game, for once it was a perfect 11 v 11 with a rich mix of rookies and comebacks: Joshua, Jonathan’s son, cut an imposing figure at the centre of the Colours defence, showing skills both in the destructive phase and in originating counters. With Nizar on fire though, he surely must have had quieter days in the office but these are the make or break games that mould players to come. You will never become a champion by dealing with pushovers!
David occupied the same position in the opposite team and his late arrival marked a reversal in the fortunes of the Orange, suffering from a double hit by Jonathan and a rare own goal by Yassin. Everyone knew it was only a matter of time, measured in minutes, before the true Messi would settled the score.
In terms of comebacks, they both were from US: Tarek from New York and Christian from Boston. Tarek found a faster game and many new young players: he adapted very well with a commanding performance on the right wing and providing attacking options as well. Christian is still the force to be reckoned with that we all remember, leaving the FDs hallmark in the Boston league. He provides strength on the ground and in the air making himself available where is most needed: a player that would have excelled both in Rinus Michel’s Ajax or Arrigo Sacchi’s Milan.
After the 2-0 lead by the Colours, Nizar decided to open his tool box and extract trick number 18 to send the defender the wrong way and get the space to fire a powerful and angled shot into the Colours’ net which was defended by a rush keeper while Orange could count on the ever dependable Alessandro.
With two educated runners like Dan and Yassin in midfield as well as Matteo constantly pushing up from the left side, Nizar was spoilt for choice in terms of scoring options: yet when the ball reached him there was still work to be done and it was then that he showed technique, strength and ruthlessness to take the score to an unreachable 6-3 for the Orange hitting the net and incredible five times.
At that point there was still the golden goal to test the pride of the Colours and indeed they took the opportunity instantly with Christian at the second header, the first wide by a whisker, sending the ball just under the bar fixing the score at an honourable 6-4 for the Orange.
Nizar took both the ball and the Man of the Match award without bothering to wait for the votes with everyone nodding his approval and congratulating him for an overall awesome performance and quite clinical finishing.
ORANGE-COLOURS 6-4
GOALS
ORANGE: Nizard (5), Yassin
COLOURS: Jonathan, Yassin (og), Julien (og), Christian
TEAMS
ORANGE: Alessandro, Chetan, David, Matteo, Hossam, Tarek, Andrea M, Julien, Dan, Yassin, Nizard
COLOURS: Matej, Christian, Joshua, Bijan, Johannes, Giancarlo, Diego F, Daoud, Edoardo, Giacomo, Jonathan
