"Game after game after game, I realize now what's most important in my life: football. Show me something more thrilling than a perfect volley, tell me you've never dreamed the immaculate strike, encounter that moment when an entire nation holds its breath. Tell me that football is not our one common language when the whole planet stips for ninety minutes to be witness to that one thing we all understand. Yes, you can tell me I'm wrong: some may say it's just a game, but this is about heroes and tribes, loyalty and devotion, it's our commitment and our passion, our battle and our belief. This is our faith. Now, feel the fever of the crowd, hear the roar of the faithful. You are Ronaldhinio, you are Wayne Rooney. This is the Beautiful Game. This is your moment." - FIFA 06 Intro Video
The 2008 Commonwealth Essay question for those born in 1993 was:“The Beautiful Game”: Why does football inspire such a passion around the world?
This is what I think..
Sadly, there are people, many people, who believe that football just a game. Many think it is only about kicking the ball into the back of the net, or kicking it out of the box as powerfully and as far as possible. In my opinion, they are absolutely mistaken. I know that I am not the only person who takes the game so seriously. Football has become as much as a religion to some of us, and this is not only to the teenagers and children. Adults have fallen into its trance just as much, if not more, than youngsters. Some people, including myself, have even started writing the word “Football” with a capital “F” in informal writing. People do get offended if the game is insulted, or if one of their role models in the game are insulted and some go as far as not allowing their footballs to be used as basketballs, whether this has the same impact on the ball as kicking it or not. This shows how far out the sport has reached, and engulfed, the minds of people in almost all the countries in the world.
Obviously, football is a sport which is much admired simply because it is a fun game to play, or even to watch. Students often spend their break times in schools having a small match. Some students use kicking a penalty as a way of releasing exam stress. During the time of the FIFA World Cup, or the UEFA Cup, families are found huddled around their televisions, cheering on their countries. Often there are large community events to bring together people from one nation to cheer on their team , even if this is only on television.However, what really brings a deeper passion into the game is not as simple as that. Football is not simply about kicking the ball from one side of the pitch to the other, though this may be what it looks like. There is amazing skill involved, and the fact that people know this is and incredible motivator for people– especially younger people – to prove themselves. This is the case for at least some of the fans.
It may be the thought of people being able to identify people like them on the pitch, that draws them to the game. Some players believe that one can identify another player’s personality, and that the pitch itself is a representation of life, where the rules are beliefs and the goals already acquired are achievements. Ronaldinho once expressed his views saying "It is not just about the money, it is about what you achieve on the pitch.” Often, it appears as though the players who are into football that simply play for money are not as successful or as popular. Comparing the game and life often make people realize that, even in real life, one cannot win without passing the ball to the teammate, without help from others to climb up the ladder. We can make a general assumption that a player who wishes to remain in defence, not to save the ball, but to avoid passes from teammates, is most likely to be shy, or scared to do something wrong in front of others, showing us that he or she is not very confident. Someone who does not pay attention to his or her teammates when in possession, or blames them for not passing or missing a chance to score, is most likely to be arrogant and over-confident. It is this relationship between both game and reality which has grabbed our attention..
The 2008 Commonwealth Essay question for those born in 1993 was:“The Beautiful Game”: Why does football inspire such a passion around the world?
This is what I think..
Sadly, there are people, many people, who believe that football just a game. Many think it is only about kicking the ball into the back of the net, or kicking it out of the box as powerfully and as far as possible. In my opinion, they are absolutely mistaken. I know that I am not the only person who takes the game so seriously. Football has become as much as a religion to some of us, and this is not only to the teenagers and children. Adults have fallen into its trance just as much, if not more, than youngsters. Some people, including myself, have even started writing the word “Football” with a capital “F” in informal writing. People do get offended if the game is insulted, or if one of their role models in the game are insulted and some go as far as not allowing their footballs to be used as basketballs, whether this has the same impact on the ball as kicking it or not. This shows how far out the sport has reached, and engulfed, the minds of people in almost all the countries in the world.
Obviously, football is a sport which is much admired simply because it is a fun game to play, or even to watch. Students often spend their break times in schools having a small match. Some students use kicking a penalty as a way of releasing exam stress. During the time of the FIFA World Cup, or the UEFA Cup, families are found huddled around their televisions, cheering on their countries. Often there are large community events to bring together people from one nation to cheer on their team , even if this is only on television.However, what really brings a deeper passion into the game is not as simple as that. Football is not simply about kicking the ball from one side of the pitch to the other, though this may be what it looks like. There is amazing skill involved, and the fact that people know this is and incredible motivator for people– especially younger people – to prove themselves. This is the case for at least some of the fans.
It may be the thought of people being able to identify people like them on the pitch, that draws them to the game. Some players believe that one can identify another player’s personality, and that the pitch itself is a representation of life, where the rules are beliefs and the goals already acquired are achievements. Ronaldinho once expressed his views saying "It is not just about the money, it is about what you achieve on the pitch.” Often, it appears as though the players who are into football that simply play for money are not as successful or as popular. Comparing the game and life often make people realize that, even in real life, one cannot win without passing the ball to the teammate, without help from others to climb up the ladder. We can make a general assumption that a player who wishes to remain in defence, not to save the ball, but to avoid passes from teammates, is most likely to be shy, or scared to do something wrong in front of others, showing us that he or she is not very confident. Someone who does not pay attention to his or her teammates when in possession, or blames them for not passing or missing a chance to score, is most likely to be arrogant and over-confident. It is this relationship between both game and reality which has grabbed our attention..
When asking a friend to tell me why he loves football, I was told this: “It is in my blood. I was brought up to play.” Being brought up in the Maldives, a country where almost everyone is extremely fond of playing football, he was constantly surrounded by the game. Often, it is one’s surroundings at a young age that strongly influences tastes and interests. Therefore, when people in one country love football, it begins to spread like a contagious disease, and when more people learn playing and attain the skills required, more love playing. He went on to say, “I love the competetiveness, and both the losses and the victories are a part of it. It isn’t just that though. Playing on the field with my friends helps me bond with them, as well as make new friends on the opposing team.” It is not only about beating the opposite team down. They are important too. You cannot win if there is no other team to win against. This makes it a great feeling to play, and this is a good reason to love playing, even if it is against a team which there is no chance to beat.
Again, after asking someone why they love football, I was simply asked whether she is allowed to tell me that she loves it, without giving me a reason. The “Beautiful Game” has inspired such a passion, though often people cannot tell me why. Perhaps this is because there is absolutely no reason – they just love the game, and often do not wish to be questioned about it. Asking myself why I play, I found that I was not able to answer immediately, and had to give the question some thought first, before considering the points above.
Many people will have different ideas about why they play and love the sport, as they will have noticed different aspects and different views of playing. A goalkeeper would enjoy being aware all the time, and learning to keep up his or her fast reflexes. Others would admire the courage it takes to be a goalkeeper, as the team will depend on the keeper much of the time. Also, the game keeps you both physically and mentally fit. Someone used to playing on full-sized pitch regularly will have a high stamina, and the awareness needed definitely trains the mind to play focussing only on certain senses, for example, listening to people’s voices instead of looking at them, and knowing where the players are positioned on the pitch.
The only definite point that the above shows, is that football has inspired a passion around the world. The reasons are completely up to the individual. They may love it because they are good at it, or because they like teamwork games. They may think this is their chance to prove themselves and others may think that this is their chance to interact with others. Even if people do not play, they may feel as if they belong to a community amongst fans of a club, and the role models who do play are a good enough motivation to attract people. Others may simply love the game for the thought of the goosebumps which occur after a spectacular goal. Football is a game where every individual counts. Everyone on the field who has achieved something knows that they could not have done this without their teammates’ and opposition’s help, even if he or she does not wish to admit it. This is one of the main reasons for football to have inspired such passion, as no one should be, or is, left out. Even the fans matter, and no single player could function alone.
Again, after asking someone why they love football, I was simply asked whether she is allowed to tell me that she loves it, without giving me a reason. The “Beautiful Game” has inspired such a passion, though often people cannot tell me why. Perhaps this is because there is absolutely no reason – they just love the game, and often do not wish to be questioned about it. Asking myself why I play, I found that I was not able to answer immediately, and had to give the question some thought first, before considering the points above.
Many people will have different ideas about why they play and love the sport, as they will have noticed different aspects and different views of playing. A goalkeeper would enjoy being aware all the time, and learning to keep up his or her fast reflexes. Others would admire the courage it takes to be a goalkeeper, as the team will depend on the keeper much of the time. Also, the game keeps you both physically and mentally fit. Someone used to playing on full-sized pitch regularly will have a high stamina, and the awareness needed definitely trains the mind to play focussing only on certain senses, for example, listening to people’s voices instead of looking at them, and knowing where the players are positioned on the pitch.
The only definite point that the above shows, is that football has inspired a passion around the world. The reasons are completely up to the individual. They may love it because they are good at it, or because they like teamwork games. They may think this is their chance to prove themselves and others may think that this is their chance to interact with others. Even if people do not play, they may feel as if they belong to a community amongst fans of a club, and the role models who do play are a good enough motivation to attract people. Others may simply love the game for the thought of the goosebumps which occur after a spectacular goal. Football is a game where every individual counts. Everyone on the field who has achieved something knows that they could not have done this without their teammates’ and opposition’s help, even if he or she does not wish to admit it. This is one of the main reasons for football to have inspired such passion, as no one should be, or is, left out. Even the fans matter, and no single player could function alone.
