The Other Soccer

The Other Soccer Match

You may have heard or seen something of the various world cup soccer matches, especially the final game with some rather un-sportsman like behavior.

Unfortunately, I was on the Holy Island of Iona, Scotland for the final game, and there was not a TV set in sight. My wife Beverly would dispute this and see it as fortunate!

Nevertheless, there was another soccer match a few weeks ago at Msalato Theological College. It was the annual student/staff game.

The student team was made up of graduating students: an opportunity to students to say goodbye to their beloved teachers, role models, and markers of term papers.

All male staff are automatically on the team, but, we were still short a few players. The daughter of teaching staff joined our team, as did Marty McCann, and the Rev. Sandy.

We were fashionably dressed in some very nice lawn bowls shirts – they look very much like soccer shirts – donations to the college from an Anglican parish in New South Wales, Australia. (I wonder what they were thinking when they sent them?)

Our dangerous players (in terms of scoring) were the Dean, Dr. Dickson and Rev. George Oketh. Those of us who had never player soccer before were of most danger to ourselves.

That would be me.

Early in the first half I was vigorously defending against an attacking player. As an ex-rugby player I have always relished the excitement of attack and defense in sport, and I have always “thrown” myself into the action.

Which is exactly what I did: During a tackle on an opposing player, we both went down, and I went down the hardest.

Unfortunately, the referee did not see my passion for the game as sportsmanlike, and I was given a red card for my over-vigourous play. I disputed the call, but, I abided by the referees decision (no head buts).

I felt okay the next day, but, several days later the pain began: the source - two cracked ribs! The irony for me is that I played rugby union for 17 years, plus competition karate, and several seasons of water polo, all without a broken bone. Such is life!

I must say the game was played in good spirit and the final score was 3-3.