The King has scored
On a drizzly Saturday morning, at the usual location for the highly attended weekly Football Dads game, there was an eerie feeling on this day when in a neighbouring church a new king was being coronated. Was this the first time ever that two royal events took place at the exact same time?
The populace of Football Dads kingdom has been kept sweet for many years with great entertainment every Saturday. “Panem et circenses” has been a winning motto for the ruling king of Football Dads who, not by chance, play on a royal park.
The prolonged absence of the reigning king, Giancarlo I, has set tongues waggling over the last few weeks. The populace isn’t aware of his whereabouts and rumours abound about what he might be up to. Guatemala? Estonia? Antarctica again? Brixton? Transfer gossip and abdication speculation have been heard among the crowd.
Today on this special day in the neighbouring kingdom, some spectators were audacious enough to proclaim “the King has scored” when Nizar scored the golden goal for the Colours (top picture).
The match has been one the best seen in decades, as if the players were aware of the solemnity of the day. The Bibbed team had secured the only professional goalkeeper available, and for that reason agreed to play with six players against seven. Captain Hossam exuded confidence, certain that with Paride in goal, him and Andre in defence, Julien in midfield, superstars Adam and Khaled in attack, they were ready to face anyone.
The Colours team couldn’t secure a goalkeeper but was able to put up an impressive line-up with Thomas, Johannes, Daoud, Francesco, Al, Andrea and Nizard. A team that perhaps lacked a strong defence, but had a terrific attacking potential, something that was clear since the first minute.
Johannes performed with rare focus and precision, running box-to-box so many times that at times it seemed he had a twin brother on the pitch. Andrea, back after a long hiatus, reminded us all why he is one of the most dangerous Kids in the Club, touching the ball with rare efficacy and running wildly. Francesco had great moments on the right wing, where Hossam was unable to stop him with resorting to a foul, and served a few assists to Daoud, who scored with clinical precision, bringing their team on the 3-0, and later to a 5-1.
The Colours were clearly benefiting from their extra man, but they also got unlikely help from Paride, who gifted them two goals. First, when he failed to control a slippery ball that didn’t appear to be dangerous. Minutes later, when he literally scored an own goal with his hands, putting in the net with his hand an harmless Johannes shot, instead of stopping it.
The late arrival of Christian offered the opportunity to rebalance the team. Now with seven man, the Bibbed got its act together and launched a decisive offensive attack. Julien and Andre raised the center of gravity. Adam accelerated the speed of his dribbling, already mind boggling for those trying to stop him and for the spectators. Now with more space available, Khaled had the opportunity to shoot in goal more often, and scored twice from the distance, with beautifully curved shots.
Paride had felt the responsibilities of his earlier mistakes, and as a true champion knew it had do fix them. He took a ball, made a few steps ahead, and shot directly in the Colours’ goal, some 50 meters away. A parable so powerful and beautiful that Francesco, in goal for the Colours, could just watch it in awe letting the ball in goal without even trying to intervene, much to his teammates’ frustration.
On the 5-3, it was clear the game was open and the Bibs had suddenly become the favourite. That, at least, until another late arrival. Chetan, quickly recruited by the Colours to reinforce their defense.
Playing again with the extra man, the Colours found new energy and inventive, with new attacking plays from every direction. Al had missed an easy chance shooting wide just few centimetres from the goal line, but wanted to show his prowess and tried to score with a surprising bicycle kick that would have made Cristiano Ronaldo envious. He didn’t hit the ball, but he conquered the fans with his royal bravery.
Despite Paride’s heroics, more goals from Daoud, Johannes and Andrea allowed the Colours to get ahead 11-5, when both players and fan called for the Golden Goal. At that exact time, a solemn music arrived on the pitch from a nearby giant screen. Trumpets, violins, harp, a celestial choir singing a heavenly music: Handel’s famous anthem, Zadok the Priest, personally selected by Charles for the most sacred part of his coronation, the anointing.
The players felt a shiver in their spines. Handel’s anthem was used as a base and an inspiration for the Champions League theme, and there could not have been a better soundtrack for the ending of such an incredible match. Receiving the ball from Johannes, Nizard found himself in the box with Hossam and Andre in front of him. Touching the ball a couple of times, and ignoring his teammates screaming to get the ball back, Nizard went on the right side and sent the ball in goal with a precise low shot.
A new king was born? Yes and no. Nizard had already proven his royalty since his first appearances on the Pond. Plus, unlike the Windsors, the Football Dads family doesn’t need to incoronate one. Every player is a king or a queen and there are no ‘spares’. Besides, Giancarlo is back next week!
“This country got a new king after 70 years. We can have a new one every week” said Hossam smiling after the match, commending his team for a great performance. “Despite the score, the match was incredibly open and when we played seven against seven we showed we were the better team”.
Reflecting on the impact of the live music during the match, pundits called for it to become a regular staple of every Saturday match. Thomas committed to bring his Bose portable speaker from next Saturday, while a contest has been launched to select the songs for first ever official Football Dads playlist. Radetzky’s March? Wagner’s Ride of the Valkyries? Shakira’s Waka waka? Let us know!
COLOURS-BIBBED 12-5
TEAMS
Colours: Thomas, Johannes, Al, Andrea, Nizard, Francesco, Daoud, Chetan
Bibbed: Paride, Hossam, Julien, Adam, Khaled, Christian, Andre