Small chronicle of a boy with a football, we write the year 1965 walking and “pinging” on the way to school, kicking the ball against the low stone garden walls. Also, round the trees in one smooth passing movement.
Also in the afternoon, and after school on the heath or sporadic playing field in the neighborhood.
At first, my football was allowed to go into the classroom, below my school desk, and in the second year, it had to be handed over to Headmaster, we didn’t really have a concierge.
A teacher with a referee whistle, which she blew, mornings and in the afternoons to make us all kids line up in two rows before entering the school, quietly. My luck was that from then on teachers only handed out punishment.
In the third year, it was no longer allowed, not even in the bicycle shed, they also heard that “at home” by the black Bakelite telephone.
Most of the fields were at the Sporting valley and the football(soccer)-fields
we’re almost at the back.
Football club FC Hilversum was “my club”, friends played in various teams on Saturdays.
Sitting in the stands, that could barely fit 100+ people, I guess. Unfortunately just 15 cm too high, so, yes; break off…
Then came 1974 and The World Cup Germany (I don’t want to talk about it…).
Hanging out along the line and in the canteen, drinking beers and smoking tobacco, was
already 16 after all!
Swearing at the “Ref” and fussing about vile violations, the weather didn’t matter to anyone,
except for that winter when cars were driven on the frozen polder, well -15 C.
(Kortenhoef, NL).
On Sundays go with “the First”,
the away game, to support them, all together in the same bus. Those were kind of mini-cities/village trips, and I also agreed.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B_SfM1inDx1/?igshid=dx7319i3ywa4 video FC Hilversum.
If the team went to a “Home Game” you could also watch, but then you had to either be a member or pay, that was difficult; no money, and it was not allowed to play football from home, because of religion and the alleged injury.
Raised with players like; Cruyff, Keizer, Krol, Barry, and Zwart of course, but also “De Curl”, because of his legs but Krol could do that with any pass! (also called him “Ruud Curl”)
Then Argentina in 1978 came into play, that was a tricky point and fierce reactions from supporters and opponents. That final was also lost, but there was an atmosphere, also in close by Chile, that winning was really something only for Generals of the Juntas.
Even then, football had become propaganda, including the cold war and many hot, energy crises.
The Golden Football generation
now gives TV comments and no more razor-sharp passes,
we are ready for new heroes in and around the field.
Qatar gives away free travel and accommodation to those who want to carry out propaganda, usually for a country they do not know or speak a language, but still articulate what one is obliged to because a breach of contract is expensive, especially in football.
(read: https://download.omroep.nl/nos/docs/301022_qatar_codeofconduct.pdf)
The ball is still round and they are now top-fit athletes, it is more than just kicking a ball,
money is not an issue, or is it…
It would be nice if the VAR remains permanently in Qatar, in squares and schools, and around all construction sites.
Nature screams murder and fire and people are going to fly by masses for the World Cup?
I know in which net the ball has to be to make a point,
and how Ajax, on paper, always wins.
Everything becomes so result-football, because of the energy crisis and food prices, panic football is lurking.
Is Qatar also a “Fear-opponent?”
(Rather The Sheikh than “the Scarf”…)*
Luc van de Steeg / LucFineArt 2022
Amsterdam / Weesp NL.
*Dutch saying being “De Sjaak” = to bear the brunt.