Dear Editor,
The football match between Costa Rica and Jamaica taught me some valuable lessons. Yeah, there were the obvious "stone that the builder refused", "too little too late" messages that I'll leave for the sporting analysts to belabour. But I observed other things less cliche and more meaningful.
I was reminded that people, by nature, put out their best when they have a point to prove. The pace of the football match was markedly different in the last 17 minutes after Costa Rica scored. There was a fire in the Boyz that they didn't have before the moment they realised "this mess just got serious". Tuffy had that vengeful militant fire too that said: "Yu neva waan play me? Watch me prove my worth." And that made me realise that we sometimes need obstacles and times of adversity to fuel a fire within us.
The match reminded me to not confuse progress with victory. The 14 busloads of Costa Rican nationals never sang Ole Ole as loud as they did in the National Stadium as they thought they had won. With minutes still left in play, they were already flag waving and breaking out in their victory song and dance... then Jamaica equalised and every Costa Rican fell dead silent. I learnt it safe and sensible to delay celebration to the end -- this was a big one for me 'cause I'm often guilty of celebrating prematurely.
Bounty Killer's skinny legs in his preppy green plaid shorts reminded me that people are people. He didn't seem so "cross, angry or miserable" with his knees exposed. He appeared a regular Jamaican guy giving support to the Reggae Boyz the best way he knew how. I liked that.
I learnt that stardom can turn people ugly. Near 2,500 people went through great expense to come see the team they love play in another country. And yet, while they were cheering their hearts out, not one Costa Rican player looked up in the stands and smiled and said "Thank You". The only Costa Ricans who bothered to take the time and acknowledge their supporters were those who had been benched. I noticed that, and it was unpleasant to see. The match reminded me to be gracious and grateful.
Lastly, the match reminded me about the power of music. I was surrounded by a sea of red in the stands, and my spirits were low because I couldn't see other Jamaicans out and ready to show the Boyz love and support. Just before the starting whistle, Bob Marley's voice echoed from the speakers "Don't worry about a thing" and right then and there, the DJ had created magic. The yellows immediately multiplied tenfold as the Jamaicans rose to their feet and, at that moment, I didn't feel so alone... and neither did the Boyz.
I'm glad I went to the match. It didn't start out my best Tuesday but, in the end, I saw some decent football, practised my Spanish, made new memories, and got schooled in how to live life.
One Love.
Patria-Kaye
St Andrew
One love: Lessons I learnt from football
-->
The football match between Costa Rica and Jamaica taught me some valuable lessons. Yeah, there were the obvious "stone that the builder refused", "too little too late" messages that I'll leave for the sporting analysts to belabour. But I observed other things less cliche and more meaningful.
I was reminded that people, by nature, put out their best when they have a point to prove. The pace of the football match was markedly different in the last 17 minutes after Costa Rica scored. There was a fire in the Boyz that they didn't have before the moment they realised "this mess just got serious". Tuffy had that vengeful militant fire too that said: "Yu neva waan play me? Watch me prove my worth." And that made me realise that we sometimes need obstacles and times of adversity to fuel a fire within us.
The match reminded me to not confuse progress with victory. The 14 busloads of Costa Rican nationals never sang Ole Ole as loud as they did in the National Stadium as they thought they had won. With minutes still left in play, they were already flag waving and breaking out in their victory song and dance... then Jamaica equalised and every Costa Rican fell dead silent. I learnt it safe and sensible to delay celebration to the end -- this was a big one for me 'cause I'm often guilty of celebrating prematurely.
Bounty Killer's skinny legs in his preppy green plaid shorts reminded me that people are people. He didn't seem so "cross, angry or miserable" with his knees exposed. He appeared a regular Jamaican guy giving support to the Reggae Boyz the best way he knew how. I liked that.
I learnt that stardom can turn people ugly. Near 2,500 people went through great expense to come see the team they love play in another country. And yet, while they were cheering their hearts out, not one Costa Rican player looked up in the stands and smiled and said "Thank You". The only Costa Ricans who bothered to take the time and acknowledge their supporters were those who had been benched. I noticed that, and it was unpleasant to see. The match reminded me to be gracious and grateful.
Lastly, the match reminded me about the power of music. I was surrounded by a sea of red in the stands, and my spirits were low because I couldn't see other Jamaicans out and ready to show the Boyz love and support. Just before the starting whistle, Bob Marley's voice echoed from the speakers "Don't worry about a thing" and right then and there, the DJ had created magic. The yellows immediately multiplied tenfold as the Jamaicans rose to their feet and, at that moment, I didn't feel so alone... and neither did the Boyz.
I'm glad I went to the match. It didn't start out my best Tuesday but, in the end, I saw some decent football, practised my Spanish, made new memories, and got schooled in how to live life.
One Love.
Patria-Kaye
St Andrew
One love: Lessons I learnt from football
-->