Kick that Ball

The fame and glory of the Ateneo grade school soccer varsity players, stories of triumph from Jico and Mica, both Gboy’s good friends, about their trip to Alabang last year where they happily competed and won, and the flurries of medals that these youthful champions received during recognition day, all spurred Gboy’s interest in Soccer. When he expressed desire to play the ballgame and hoped to be with the varsity team next school year, I offered to enroll him to the Ateneo Soccer clinic this summer. With all excitement and willingness, he said yes.

7 April 2008, the first day of practice, was the day he had been longing to come. It was a holiday, so I had the opportunity to accompany him on this first day. He had previously packed all the things he needed for practice—his cleets, high socks, shorts and shirts. Armed with a tumbler of cold water and freshly baked brownies, we were off to Ateneo.

At the main soccer field, there was a number of older students racing with each other and chasing the ball. I figured they were high school students having a match. Some students, in full soccer gear, were jogging along the oval. Others were gathered on one side conferring and perhaps readying for another day of challenge.

At the open field adjacent the grade school building was a couple of kids each with a soccer ball. A young girl quite big for her age, and a young boy perhaps in his pre-school were trying out the ball game. A stocky man was explaining how to handle the ball. He must be the coach, and well, I learned that he was. I then endorsed Gboy to him.

Other children joined in, they were sufficient to constitute a team. All attention was to focused on the coach, who was giving instructions on how to play the game. On the last hour of the session, they had a fungame. Gboy must have a good time playing the game. I see that he was all smiles and oozing with excitement and thrill. I could hear his laughter while he came running and kicking the ball. He was appointed striker, that is the one responsible for shooting the ball to the goal.

He was happy and fulfilled going home.

When