Football speaks the universal Language

Its pre-season and a quiet time for Goan football but elsewhere in the world football is alive and kicking. The month of July saw four football events played in different continents of the world. The Copa America in Venezuela, a tribute match in South Africa in honour of Nelson Mandela, the Under-20 World Cup in Canada and the AFC Asia Cup in Asia. All these are very interesting events and I want to say something about them, but for the moment just on the first two.

They say 'you win some and you loose some'. Winning and losing is part of the game. But what matters most is how you win. In football specially, it's important that you play to entertain by playing the game fair and square. Brazil won the 42nd Copa America beating favourites Argentina by 3-0. They won but failed to play the beautiful game they are famous for. Yes, the same beautiful game played over the years by the likes of great Brazilian players Pele, Garrincha, Zico, Socrates and many others. Dunga, the Brazilian coach hardly felt the absence of two of his best footballers in the world, Ronaldinho and Kaka, who opted out due to fatigue after a grueling season in Europe. Dunga himself was a hard tackling midfielder in his days and so preferred Aggression to Artistry from his team. They committed 37 fouls in the finals which is rare by Brazilian standards. In the finals, accept for the three goals there was nothing much to cheer about. Brazilian fans like me missed the artistry of players like Ronaldinho and Kaka, those flicks and back heels, the high speed dribbles, the occasional step over, sudden turns and ball possession for longer period, which makes the game more beautiful.

But sometimes one can lose and still be a winner in the eyes of many. Argentina played free flowing football winning all their encounters, except the finals, scoring 16 goals in all. Even though I am a big fan of Brazil, this time, however, I felt that Argentina deserved to win the championship, if you look at the overall performance of both the teams in the tournament. Fouls are the integral part of the game in football. Fouls due to mistimed tackles, poor anticipation and accidental in nature are understandable but intentional and deliberate fouls committed specially coming from the back of the player with the ball, are deplorable. Referees do take prompt action in such cases but the beautiful game, being stopped time and again, loses its charm. In today's football 'Aggression' is the name of the game. There is a thin line dividing Aggression and Foul play. Aggression does not mean unfair and unnecessary tackles with brute force. Aggression means pressurizing the opponents by not giving them an inch to play. In today's football players going for a Sliding tackle is Aggressive play and acceptable provided you don't hit the legs instead of the ball. Back home in Goa, as there is lot of focus on youth development, PE teachers and coaches with underage groups must teach the boys to play the game aggressively but fair and square. Young footballers must also be encouraged to be gracious both in victory and defeat.

In South Africa, FIFA paid rich tributes to one of the greatest living persons in the world, Mr Nelson Mandela, who fought against injustice and discrimination. On his 89th birthday, a football match was organized by FIFA in Cape Town at the Newlands Stadium, July 18, 2007 between Rest of the World XI captained by the great Pele and an Africa XI led by three times African player of the year Samuel Eto'o. This game was held on his birthday to spread global awareness about HIV/AIDS and of course to say 'No to Racism'. Also on this day, FIFA paid homage to Makana Football Association on Robben Island by making them the honorary member of FIFA. Mr Nelson Mandela recalled how during their dark days of incarceration, the Association drew together all the prisoners on the Island around the beautiful game of football.
On Sunday 29 July, Iraq created history by clinching the AFC Asian Cup 2007 in Jakarta, Indonesia and are now the new champions of Asia. We all know that Iraq is devastated not only by American aggression but also by internal conflicts and hatred between the Shia'a, Sunni and the Kurdish Muslims. Iraq squad consisted of players from these very sects and showed the world how together they can prosper and live in peace.
The game of football not only entertainments but transcends all barriers of Racism, Caste, Religion and even takes up social issues for the good of the society.