Mamela(listen), when they say “football is a game of opinions” they were not lying my friend.
Honestly, I totally agree with this statement and the events of these past few weeks were proof of this.
Guys, don’t get me wrong, but we are all different and as a result, we see life and the world differently.
Football for me is LIFE.
On a really stressful morning, a Facebook mate of mine, Zukile Daniel, from a rival media company openly criticised me on social media, but still makes the time to support my Diski Nites event that I’d organised on the evening of that same day.
I got to share the room with guys like Imraan Morgan, who was the Tournament Director of the U18 Engen Challenge for the two years when I was working as a master of ceremonies for the tournament.
We have a lot of discussions about the game and about his role as a father to an aspiring teenage goalkeeper.
SPIRIT OF THE GAME: Gilberto and Defoe. Photo: Supplied.
In that same room was former Bafana Bafana goalkeeper Hans Vonk, with whom we discussed all things from his role as Head of Youth at Ajax Cape Town and his experiences as professional footballer.
And yes, we also asked him how he feels about Pierre Issa who scored two own goals against him in South Africa’s first-ever World Cup match.
So you see, my personal experience and how I consume the game might be different from a person who might have played it, but now only watches it on TV or reads stuff on the internet.
We saw some of the craziest things happen in football these past two weeks, from Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur do the unthinkable to reach the Uefa Champions League final to league titles being won in the last match of the season.
You’d think it matters what the result ends up being and you’d assume it would be the end of the discussion.
Noooooit, the discussion turns into something else from excuses and sometimes hilarious meltdowns. It’s banter and that's what it’s like to be a football fan.
People are constantly trying to make you sing to their tune.
REMINISCE: Ex-SA keeper Hans Vonk. Photo: Backpagepix.
The sad part about it all is that the same people are not prepared to be as vocal when they have to humble themselves.
Bro, I saw former England international Jermaine Defoe fight with his Brazilian teammate Gilberto, pushing and shoving each other over who would take a free kick for their club Toronto FC.
Gilberto picked up the ball and was determined to take the kick, but Defoe was not having it and tried to take the ball from his teammate so that he could take the shot.
Gilberto eventually took it and launched an absolute rocket of a shot and scored.
What was special was how after celebrating with his other teammates, he went back and embraced Defoe and they shared a laughing moment in celebration of the goal.
If only we fans could share such moments, such as inviting a guy you shared banter with publicly or on social media or otherwise for a drink.
You know, special moments where you acknowledge one another’s little triumphs, because we all know the season is long and there can be only one winner.
More importantly, we are all human and we are not always right because our experiences of the game are different.
BAFANA VILLAIN: Pierre Issa. Photo: Supplied.
We all have a little something we can learn from one another either way.
The beauty in all this is when you find people who wear the same football goggles as you.
And this I wish for all of you as you take a little breather for the off-season.