This match marked the start of a new chapter for the team. We had come far, realising our first few wins in a while which gave belief and de-spells the myth that this team could not victor. But what happens in the match i wont even bother to review. In this episode, i rather touch on what needs reviewing.
Lets start with examining the mark of winners. First of all winners believe and dream. Secondly, they never give up. Thirdly winners stick together, for better or for worse, and work together.
The mark of good leadership. Taking the pro-active role. Knowing the characters in your team. Having the drive to succeed, not for yourself, but for the team. Ability to drive your team. Having belief, in the team and yourself. Ultimately, sacrifice. Sacrifice made, in public or in private, towards the team objective. Sacrifice for a team-mate. Sacrifice for the team.
We do not need a leader in the team.
We do not need a winner in the team.
But what im sure of, is we need A TEAM OF LEADERS. We need a TEAM OF WINNERS. Not one great individual, but a TEAM OF GREAT INDIVIDUALS.
Who says you need to be a technically gifted footballer to succeed. To be able to do half the things Ronaldo can do with his eyes closed is a good advantage, but it does not bring in everything. He is a good, skillful footballer. A good footballer in A GOOD TEAM. A Team with a winning attitude.
We have no Championship to fight for. We do not have a trophy to win. We may not wear the jersey for our nation. We may not be even competing in the S-league, nor any amateur league (as of yet, but perhaps in the near future i hope). But each and every one of us, may it be the one on the bench or on the field itself, is working towards a meaningful value. yes we might not be playing for the nation, the cup, or any title. But Why we try so hard to win week in and week out, is for the simple reason that we play for ourselves. For the face you see in your passport, and the very name you carry in your IC. In essence, what you value yourself to be.
We are no more employees of some big company trying to run us down with meagre wage structures bent to exploit our productiveness for the good of an exotic few whom may not even give a damn about how we live. We are no more tying ourselves to anything we do not want to. We arent doing it for the money. None of us are.
We play our hearts out to salvage any little value we have in this unreal, selfish and unforgiving world that has swallowed us in the five or six days that preceed the match. With every blade of grass (or stone, or sand) that we cover every Sunday, we search for our true self. What each and everyone of us are made of. Loose and fine sand that flies of in the wind or the rock that stays strong even when battered by the unrelenting waves.
In the end its not what you do on the pitch that matters. Its what WE can do on the pitch that really does matter. Do What? WIN? no... Winning does not matter even one bit. Even In DEFEAT can one still hold glory. Even in defeat can one still be GREAT. How we might ask.
By how we carry ourselves i would say. We can lose, yes. We can win, great. But how we carry ourselves in ALL our games is the most important determinant to being a Great Player, or being part of a Great Team. Greatness lies in the attitude of the self.
A great thanks to all in the team whom have done their part, and are giving their best in each and every game. Both on, and off the field. Its been a pleasure to be included in your company.
yours, Rahman
