Ikey's Ideas

On The Beautiful Game

In 20 years of playing football, last weekend was by far the lowest point in my footballing life.  Leading my beloved FC Medisina into battle with such high expectations, only to be unceremoniously thrashed by a lesser opponent has scarred me more than I thought it would.  It’s a humiliation that I will remember for a long time to come.

As the saying goes, “you cannot know the light without the dark”.  In the wake of a bitterly disappointing Palarong Med 2011, I’ve found an unexpected sense completion.  I’ve been blessed with some blissful moments on the football field.  Scoring goals for a team you love in front of fans who care for you ranks among the truly euphoric experiences an athlete can have, and I’ve been blessed enough to feel that primal rush on a few glorious occasions.  And yet, my miniscule ‘career’ would not be complete without knowing the true agony of defeat.  The shock, pain and raw disappointment that comes with a stunning loss are just as much a part of this beautiful game as the feeling of flying when things are going well.  It’s the nature of the sport.  It’s the nature of life. Nothing is guaranteed.  You always end up more appreciative of what you had once it’s been taken away from you, and you stand back up to take back what’s yours.

I know that football is just a game, but this mere game can have a magical effect on people.  It turns strangers into teammates.  Teammates into friends.  Friends into family.  Brothers and sisters in arms, giving their blood, sweat and tears to each other, for each other.  The FCM family is a testament to this power of football.  As happy as goal scoring may be, it pales in comparison over the feeling of playing for a truly bonded team.  Win or lose, I stand by my team with pride and gratitude for their presence and their efforts.

Wounds heal and scars harden.  FCM will return better, faster, stronger next year because the promise of next season never dies.  In this beautiful game, the potential for greatness is always just the next kickoff away.