i went to look for jason today and he handed me the invitation to his wedding dinner next saturday. jason, for those who do not know, is a good friend, one of the best friends that i've made playing football, one whom i look up to.
from someone who was a authority figure more than 4 years ago, to an elder brother that i never had in 2006, although i was fiercely private about my affairs (i can keep a secret, other's or mine, really well i think), he was there, encouraging me, and teaching me life's lessons. and he too was the one who kept hounding me to share with him the thoughts that were on my mind, refusing to buy the "nothing"s that i was uttering to everyone who asked. it's not that i do not trust him, it's just that i find it difficult to talk to others about my "troubles" (i'm cringing as i type the word), especially to guys. even though i did not budge, it was still comforting to know that he cares.
then, more and more, he started encouraging me to take up more responsibility, and more and more, he was getting busy renovating his new house, and then, preparing for his wedding, and i hardly get to see him anymore, but still, he took the time out to catch up during my holidays.
later, i played football with another group of people, many of whom i do not know, but 2 of them, i want to mention.
first guy, a korean (i think) always greets he with a hearty "my man!". he is too a united fan, always donning his park 13 united shirt (thus the inferred nationality), and he used to say that i play like gerrard which was extremely flattering (as well as ironic, because the "friend" who stamped on me idolised the mentioned player and would often get others to call him "gerrard", now, without asking at all, i got to be called that.). but he stopped calling me that upon learning that i too am a united fan. now he calls me "anderson". i'm neither of these 2 players, i know, but hey, it's nice to praised one in a while, no?
another, an older guy who wears a fas coaching course shirt. i asked him when i first met him if he was a coach. grinning, he answered that no lah, he went for the course a long time ago, when he was a young man. but from then on, he started proffering me little pieces of advice, always encouraging me with a little nod, or even a "good play". the first thing that he told me was to look up more often, to be more aware, one of my greatest weaknesses, and to take my time to pick my pass, to be less hurried, another one of my shortcomings. today, i was stuck near the touch line with 3 men closing me down and i was screaming for support, but none was coming, and the end i threw possession away with a wild punt down the line, hoping for the best. later, he came to me, and in his gentle and patient voice, presented another option, one that is simple, yet, in the heat of battle, i failed to see it: to simply switch the ball, or better still, play a searching diagonal ball across the opponent's defense.
these 2 guys, i do not even know their names, nor do they mine.
what a powerful bridge across divides football is, bring people, different people, together and making unlikely acquaintances, friends.
and it both delights and humbles me to know people like jason and "park" and "coach".