Why I like soccer.

Since my childhood, I have been asked many questions but the most prominent one was why I loved soccer. This game of football which is also called soccer is in my language called Kgwele which literally means – the ball.

I had and still have the answers; I watch football because I love the game. It is my lifeblood. The entertaining part of it ignites more passion for the sport. It is a, sought of, palliative activity from boring duties and distress. It sharpens my intellect to think strategically because it’s a game of minds. It sways my emotions to the extremes – from extreme laughter to angst and tears - depending on the performance of my team. I don’t have to make an appointment to engage or immerse in the sport. I can simply switch on the television, go watch the game even in my backyard; soccer is everywhere. I am a perfect player – not in the field but from my armchair. Football, while it offers amusement, it also offers me good therapy. It also gives me a chance to bond with friends one cannot watch it alone. Through football one can create many friendships in far places, because it is a powerful which can unite people. During my adolescents years I managed to have friends from far places. My love for soccer resulted in a bond with my brothers and friends on mine. It’s because we share emotional basis because of the love for the game. Football is a skillful warfare, where players in the field don’t kill each other but their intention is to outclass one another. It is a disciplined sport because coaches and managers want the best out of the teams. It is no different from a military field where there are commanders who expect the best out of their soldiers. I like discipline. Most successful people in many fields achieved their successes not only through intelligence but discipline. Although a game is not war, sometimes blood spills. Players do collide while some try dirty tricks to make sure that they keep others out of the game; that’s where a good decision making from a referee should arise. If my team is dominating and scoring lot of goals, to me it is a great achievement. However, I know very well that opponents of the losing side are angry. A win is what we strive for. What I have learned in soccer is that no matter how massive the win or loss for a team, there is tomorrow and the tables will turn. After all these years of watching soccer my loyalty has been tested and I feel I can survive tough times. The lessons I have learned through soccer are helpful in my daily life. The sport has built my mental capacity and resilience in difficult times. I will always enjoy the game.