LIFE, FROM A SOCCER POINT OF VIEW

PART ONE – INTRODUCTION

A day at the soccer pitch on matchday Saturday has taught me and showed me a revalation to my life. I just thought i should share this so that the next time you go out to watch a simple soccer match, you learn something that can be useful to your life.

Soccer as we all know it and love it, is both a physical and mental game which requires strategy and agility. Soccer is a vivid illustration of our daily lives. Soccer shows us how we relate and should react towards each other. You must be asking yourself how this is so.

Firstly, soccer is a two team game of strategy. Each team has a mandate to get the ball into the net or goal of the other team and the opposing team has the mandate to defend its goal area. The opposite works too. Each team is made up of 11 players (im going to focus on just the players in the field), a coach and supporters. There is also the referee who for law enforcement and control of the match. Im going to show you exactly how this setup is just the way we are in our daily lives.

THE PITCH: This is the platform where the match is played. In your life, the pich is the seting where you go about your life everyday. You can also scale this down to any specific location, for example, your office, school, house e.t.c.

THE PLAYER: This one is you. You are on the pitch, playing today. You should play the game of your life today with the goal of scoring and winning today. You are the ‘man’ of the moment. You re in the spotlight.

THE REFEREE: One who is in control of the scenario. Be it your boss, your parent or anyone in that regard. They do not play the ball, but they control how you play it. They do not live your life, but the control how you live it. They dont work, they control how you achiee our goal of the day.

OTHER PLAYERS: Basically there are two types of players. Your team-mates and your opponent. The opponent has the same goal as you but it is only against you. Your teammates are there to assist you realise your goal. You have the same ultimate goal but each one contributes their effort to reach this ultimate goal. It is key to be able to differentiate opponents from teammates in real life. We have people that are our rivals in interests. We have people that are stumblingblocksin our lives. These people can be our friends, relatives and even our partners. You need to notice what people contribute towards your life. Your teammates know what you. They know what you are capable of achieving and how you want to achieve. They also know what it is that you want to achieve. These people simply make it happen for you. You pass the ballto them and they either score for you or they pass it back to you and you score.

THE SUPPORTERS: These are vey important in every match. They influence the emotions, the drive, the mental and the atmosphere at the match venue. The supporters have a clearer view of the match from the terrace. They dont play the ball, but they influence how youplay. You have people who watch you do what you do. They do not do it inan way, they say what they see. Athey comment. They say all sorts of things. If a player listens to supporters, he/she may be discouraged or be encouraged. There are supporters who love you for what you are. There are supporters who love you for who you are. There are supporters from opposite teams. There are people who say ynegetive things nomater how good you perfom. They see the 1 percent mistake rate and blast you for it. They are to be listened to and what they say needs to be analised before it is processed and acted upon. They are everywhere and they watch the match from all corners of the world. They shall hear of what you are doing, and they are going to talk about it. How you take what you hear willinfluence how well you re going to play.

THE COACH: The coach is there for guidance. This is a father figure. This is your pastor, father, guardian, leader. This could be also someone you look up to or someone you immitate. This is your coach. Provides the basic guide out of life’s situations. Provides and introduces the strategies of the match. The coach clarifies these strategies and takes you through training and practice. The coach will take you out of your situation. It is key to know your coach personally. To build a personal relationship withis person. It is your duty to obey and be guided. It is said that the best way to learn is to be teachable. Be a teachable person. The best players on the field are the ones that listen to their coach and do as they are taught. Identify your coach and respect him.

The football match itselt is a game of tactic, skill, speed and physique all embrace by attitude. These are also the basic requirements of any life situation. You should have the tactic or strategy to deal with your situation. Deal with it with speed, the more you delay, the hader it becomes. You need physique for endurance. You need the skill to deal with your situation. You should have the right attitude if you want to succeed in any situation.

Playing soccer has taught me that the best way to defend is to attack. By this, you keep your opponetnt so busy defending that they will not get a chance to attack you. In life, you should not relax and sit back. Go out there and do it. Nothing will change unless you make the change. You are the only person who knows what you want and how you want it. Unless you goout there and get it, it will not come. The best time to do that is when you have no need to gather your necessities. I say this because ifyou donot gather gather your needs when you dont need them, you will feel the gap when you really need them. If you go out to attack when you are winning, you will not be afraid to enjoy the game. Youwill play with confidence and style. Imagine fighting for an equalizer. When you do things in advance, you create the opportunity for revision. It is so with soccer, if you continue to attack, evenif your opponents score, they willonly narrow the margin of your win. In the end you are still a winner.

I also learnt that the ball that comes to you is never the perfectball. It is how you receive it and what you make out of it that matters. Possession counts on the way the player handles the ball. Same as in life. Whatcomes to you is never the perfect things. The more you complain, the lesser your chances of prosperingand the lesser you have in the end. Learn to appreciate and always strive to work on improving your situation. Learn to make comfort and stop expecting comfort to come yourway. Remember that you live in a society when people are unique in their own ways, whatever comes your way is set according to the standards of the source. The pass that comes to you is always right accordind to the passer, but you have to make it right according to you. You know your weaknesses and strength more that anyone can imagine. So take it upon yourself and be comfortable with the ball.

I also learnt that there are numerous ways of hitting the ball but only one is most suitable for each scenario. You cant use a header to intercept a grounder, neither can you use your leg on an arial ball. It simply cant work like that. Learn to use the right tools for the job. Learn the requirements for what you want to achieve. Seek these requirements before you step out to your quest. You cannot go to university without going through basic primary school level. Everything is done step by step. You can never start by living in a house before building it or buying it or paying for it. If you think that itis possible, try eating a banana without peeling it first. Gather the tools before starting the quest. It will take you lesser time to achieve if you have the right things. All lifebginswith a sort of plan. It is easier to follow a plan than just going about what comes to your mind.

I learnt also that soccer is a team sport. It is faster and less harder if players play together. We carry each other’s burdens on the field out there. We should also carry each other’s burdens off the field. You are not alone in your situation or any place you shall be, you are not alone. You cannot win against 11 opposit players if you are one on that pitch. The ball moves faster if it is passed around than when players are running around with it. Dont ever think that you will overcome your fear, worries, tears, losses and depressions by closing the door and staying in bed. Talk about it, share itwith others. Nothing is new under the sun. When the infeild players hit a brick wall, they go back to the cooach. It is better to humble and ask than spending the night wondering about. It is wise to use the people aroundyou. Let people assist you. Be open as players open up for the ball. The player who is open will receive the pass. Those who are open will enjoy better possession of the ball and will quickly gain confidence for they always have ample time to do the right thing. So open up, use the confidence advantage.

As soccer is a physical game, you are bound to get injured. Expect it and preparefor it. Mostpeople deny the fact that they have been injured nd will still want to play. Injuries occur especially if you lack the physique required for the sport. Injuries are not death. They are just minor setbacks that willnot stop you but will onlk delay you. Noone has ever been killed by an injury in soccer although some injuries have left others crippled. Dont be stopped by an injury, its only a minor setback.

To sum up, there are lots of things that relate to the game of football. Ii shall continue with gameplay in part two of this series. Comment on it and suggest on it. Please forgive my way of writing, i am not a writer. If you can, please assist me to publish this in a proper way. Thank you in advance.

LIFE, FROM A SOCCER POINT OF VIEW – END OF PART ONE BY PATRACK

GOD BLESS