The Man from the Cape
It was a game played with a fire that the incessant rain seemed to ignite rather than extinguish as the 26 players (another record) including rookie Darren (see pic) refused to relent at any time during the game.
The weekend started with the news that mankind made it to run a marathon under two hours, as Eliud crosses the line with 20’’ to spare in Vienna.
FDs welcome the news with sympathy as moving the bar above the humanely achievable is something they can relate to on a weekly basis.
In fact Giancarlo stopped the clock at 9’ below Eliud time but to be fair that was a half marathon: this tells you that setting records these days is all about details.
The 13 Bibbed looked better organised at the start with one touch football far from been impeded by the slippery ground. The vertical Moroccan axis made by Yassin and Mohammad has speed and skill in full synch to dominate midfield.
The Unbibbed tried to match the pace but soon realised that such exercise would have lasted only few minutes and consigned them to a walking game thereafter. The pair inflicted maximum pain and Mohammad bagged an hat trick in no time while Yassin alone recorded the highest ever individual possession at 29.7%.
The Unbibbed were not passive spectators and charged the Bibbed box with aggression and consistency: Massimo in the middle with Thomas on the right, Charlie on the left and both Hossam and Diego in front of defence would not let any ball through.
The Italian played like he had an agenda: is he trying to be the first FD to win back to back Player of the Year award? As a banker he surely knows how to exploit the commercial value of such a precious trophy.
Charlie at only 18 played like a veteran both as a full back and a fully licensed winger when venturing with Sarah in the Unbibbed left territory up the pitch inflicting pain at every turn. The vintage players thought they saw a new Antonio Cabrini in action while the young ones were quick in drawing comparison with Trent Alexander Arnold.
The Unbibbed ferocity was nevertheless rewarded by a couple of scrappy and contested goals until Federico claimed parity with an exquisite back heel that sent the final verdict to a much coveted golden goal amidst growing tension and nerves at risk of jeopardising established friendship and relationships.
It took until midday to untie the knot but ultimately the Unbibbed leveraged the two men advantage courtesy Johannes’ predictable left foot who unleashed a curling shot just under the bar to end a game no one wanted and deserved to lose. But in football, as in life, you don’t always get what you deserve. Luckily in football your next chance is only a week away.
The Man of the Match award was a co-production between Yassin and Mohammad. There were just too hot to handler with the latter bringing home also the hat trick goal.
And finally the tale of the Man from the Cape. While jogging around the pitch (where else?) last Sunday Giancarlo bumped into Luis (see pic below) after a long time. The young man from Capetown made history both with FDs and FKs. While at times, though very rarely, the commentator glorifies FDs and FKs, with Luis the risk, if any, is to understate his skills.
Luis past goal of the season is heavily tipped to be the goal of the decade when the time comes and may he live long to see it compete for the goal of the century.
Unfortunately there was no one to record his mid air scissor kick into the top corner and unfortunately the closest you can get to that goal is Ibra’s in Sweden-England.
Luckily all you need to see it live again is for Luis to turn up sometime and someone to throw him a mid air ball somewhere around the box. The touch of a Roberto Baggio and Ibra’s athleticism is for Luis standard equipment.
While his very promising career as an Under 17 South African National was cut short by serial injuries Luis can still show us what football has missed and we hope to see him soon.
Unnoticed until recently by the busy Club Treasurer Luis contributed also 100£ to the FDs website bringing the total above 900£. Any spare money will go against the project of a new Stadium which will be discussed at the next FDs EGM night out with the ‘ save the date’ coming soon.