Rock’n Rookies
‘When I heard the fans chanting my name and the girls on the stands asking me to strip and play bare-chested, I asked myself: What on earth did I have to do better than playing here on any given Saturday?’.
This is what Aidan told journalists in the packed press conference room soon after the match, overcome by emotions. He was last seen donning the Kids’ white and red kit in the first Master Game, seven years ago, scoring the opener against his Dad Chris, a cool defender and one the legendary’ Founding Father’ back in the Holland Park days. Such is our franchise: doors are always open.
Given the length of the absence and his size doubling Aidan could almost qualify as a new Rookie: he did indeed rose to the occasion by scoring not once but three times bringing home the much coveted ball of the match.
Talking about past Rookies also Andy from Albania was back in the game patrolling the left side with authority and speed. Yet again the ‘ Foglia Academy’ produced with full marks another Rookie in Gabriele, a commanding presence in the middle of
the Colour defence.
The Club algorithm must have had Italian as a key parameter as he put together the Italian core and few others (Colours) against the Rest of the World (Orange).
It was always going to be a high-score Match as none of the role keepers was in. Paride, Alessandro, Tony L where the f… are you when we need you?
Colours were a younger side but Orange had experience in spades: that means, among others, be where it matters when it matters. It was in fact Hossam to open the score with a simple touch in the heart of the Orange defence. More were to follow with Mohammed and Aidan but the Colours where always at a touching distance thanks to goals from Diego, one directly from corner kick, Marco and Terminator Tony.
Giancarlo was back scoring after a long while but unfortunately in his own goal as he tried to prevent a tap in. He had a few minutes later an occasion to redeem himself as he sent from midfield a missile-ball shaving the post. ‘I would have thought twice before shooting from that distance…‘ Roberto Carlos pointed out.
Colours were frustrated by been constantly a goal down but never reaching the Orange: the pressure was immense but interestingly bookmakers did not alter the odds as any defence with Hannes and Hossam could stand the attack of an army for as long as it pleased them.
Mohammed and Aidan were just scoring machine with Yassin constantly feeding them and Nizard a thorn in right side of the Colour defence. The youngsters on the other side, rotating around Francesco, never gave up and further goals from Giacomo and Antonio kept the game pulsating and ever alive.
At one point a sky high ball in the Orange box saw Tony jumping the highest ever recorded for a human being only to head just an inch over the bar. Tony back in form is definitely good news for the MG 8!
Also the Golden goal went the Orange way courtesy of Aidan, yet again.
While he attracted all the females’ votes for the Man of the Match accolade, it was Mohammed who clinched it by terrorising the Colours’ defence and punishing them at the smallest of mistakes making sure his team hold on to the lead from start to finish.
Another nail biting game fought by as many as 25 players in a fantastic sunny day. What else?
ORANGE-COLOUR 10-7
TEAMS:
ORANGE: Hossam, Hannes, Chetan, Andre’, Diego A, Young Tom, Yassin, Mohammad, Julien, Jeremy T, Nizard, Aidan,
COLOURS: Filippo, Federico, Gabriele Giancarlo, Antonio, Giacomo, Andy, Marco, Diego D, Andrea, Alessandro, Francesco, Tony.
GOAL:
ORANGE: Hossam, Aidan (3), Giancarlo (og), Mohammad (3), Yassin, Nizard
COLOUR: Diego D (2), Marco, Tony (2), Antonio, Giacomo.