As mich as it was evident that Del was simply not a fluke in terms of his prowess on the football field.There were still either doubting Thomases around or simply the Kiwi Tall Poppy Syndrome at play.
As has been characteristics of the winter, the morning was quiet foggy and chilly as usual.We arrived at the playing field in time, this time with his sister Rin in tow.Just before they were selected to start, i realised I had left Del’s water drinking bottle in the car.So we left Del to join his team mates and went back to the car with Rin.
On return I was utterly shocked to see Del, who offcourse had been outstandingly the best player being set outside together with counterpart “Obasanjo”.So I asked why Del had been left out not to start as can be expected of his quality.The team manager Laurah Goodwright answered that he will get his turn.And I was like who in the world start a match with their best player seated outside.As fate would have it, 4 goals went past Del’s team as I showed my disgust for such a shoddy selection and worst as it seemed, not even directed by the coach but the team manager, who incidentally has her 3 children in the team, who were all fielded in the team at that time.As they realised the hypocrisy I was throwing into their face, they immediately introduced Del into the fray
On getting in, I made sure I get Del pumped up and on the ball. I preety much took over side coaching of Del’s endeavours, encouraging to keep moving the ball and following on his attacks. It was quiet taxing for the young lad, but at that point I had a point to prove.And as expected,Del preety much managed to dribble through the whole team and tapped the ball into the net.I was so relieved and extactic at the same time.To add salt to injury, I shouted “show them how its done son”.I needed to say that to send a message that I was not happy with the politics of leaving him out, when clearly the only difference between him and the rest was the colour of his skin and his skills.
And pumped up as he was, Del kept on piling the pressure to the opposing team, and scored 3 more goals with no reply.He did not dissapoint his dad at all.At break time I had a chat with the young coach, and asked him why he had considered to keep Del out, when clearly he knows he can move the ball around better than anyone in the team.His argument was he wanted to try a new tactic.Who does that?, try a new tactic without your best player.Meet a new team you have no idea how it plays without having a clear plan on holding them down.So I told him, that him as a football player, knows it better than when a player thinks he is good enough, the best you can do for them to do more better is to give them more play time, and most importantly in soccer there is always the pychological edge to always start when play starts.He agreed he understood that.I a nutshell I concluded the team manager Laurah had influenced him on his team selection, which unfortunately was not wise in this case.Hence the tall poppy syndrome, which in essence is normally a Kiwi practise where it is perceived that being a cut above the rest is not acceptable, hence your standards have to be brought to match the rest so that we all feel good about ourselves.Unfortunately not us, that has to wait for someone else to take that.
And so second half continued and as Del got tired I asked that he be retired.But the damage has been done.He managed to show he had so much grit and wether they liked ot or not they need to accept that he was the cog of the team. And so they duly awarded him again with the Player of the Day.Not sure wether their concern was wether i would complain again or not but in principle Del played his heart out and he duly deserved it.
