My playing years started with street football ever since I could walk. I remember waking up early and sneaking out in my pajamas to play on the street before mom woke up to get me ready for pre-school. This is the norm almost anywhere in Africa, Asia, Europe or South America. I remember at age 9 or 10 threatening the maid if she ever tells when I did sneak out of the first floor of the house where I would study, to play football.
My most memorable match from the early era was when I represented my school team at the final district championship match at grade 3. I was the goal keeper and it was 1-1 at the last minute when a winger took a shot at my goal, low and to my left. I could have saved it easily but I wanted to show off in front of a girl I liked, so I dove aerobatically turning my whole body 360 degrees in the air landing to catch the ball only to miss it by a second!
Since then I represented my school at the high schools level several times and I played for and in fact coached a university team in a National championship. A sample from memorabilia book is
displyed to the right. It feels just like yesterday!
I played for 5 university teams in Egypt, Lebanon, Greece and Canada; two of which I was a player-coach
I have always played either as an inside right or as a keeper. Never figured what the connection is but this is where I felt comfortable and did well.
In St. Catharines, Toronto and Aurora, all in Ontario, Canada, I played for three industrial men's leagues.
I then played for top premier division men's league in Aurora "Aurora Hearts".
The article posted on the "soccer" page, a microsoft word file called "soccer fanatic" refers to an incident some may not be able to imagine.
1976 in Lebanon, during one of the civial war rounds, in ta own 3000 meters "9000 feet" above sea level on top of a mountain, we organized a soccer league. Substitutes took turns on top of the school building next to where we played, as sniper guards! Yes, you would put down the ball and pick up your M16 and the russian-made scope rifle.
Some thought I was trying to be facetious when I wrote this article. I was dead serious. I never played hockey, never played baseball, never in fact heard of them until I lived in North America for several years.
I still never "literally" never touched a hockey stick or a baseball glove, never skied or skated and in fact I still don't know how they score in baseball with no goal to kick or throw the ball into. I was told something like when a players runs around the field so many times it counts as a goal.
Yes, I really thought "Squash" is a Spanish dish!
Well, any way, when you have a moment, read that article. It annoyed many people!
Of course we all know once a footballer always a footballer. I still play, or try to!! Obviously my playing years are over. I had a chance when I played for a provincial select during my first year in college to make the National team. I'll always wonder whether I should have taken that route, but, my parents always wanted me to be a doctor or an engineer; and so did I.
The player in me is still resisting arrest by age. Whenever I have the chance I join a 35+ "oldtimers" league or tournament.
By the way, I named my son, my only child, ( Pele' ) ..
It is very exciting to see the look at youth players' faces "and even some coaches" when
I just can't resist it and sometimes I show off! I still can bend the ball with good accuracy. I place the ball outside the field, about 5 yards behind the goal line, and a "banana shot" would take te ball in the air into the field and turns above the keeper's arms and curves changing direction into the goal. Sure I'll show you next time we're on a football pitch.
