As a mom whose beloved son plays football, I have had my fair share of waking up way too early on certain Sundays to stand in the sun and cheer for the team. The 2 big football fundays are usually organised by Panaga School in KB (for 12 years and below) and JIS in Jerudong, so soccer parents troop dutifully wherever their children's year group takes them. It was the JIS Football Fun Day yesterday and I was there. Boiling in the sun perhaps. But there.
I remember the earlier Fun Days I attended with beloved son. When the boys were younger, when it came to their football gear, anything goes. The coach usually pool money from the parents and buys jerseys for the team. The jerseys are usually large and billowy and ill-fitted for scrawny Asian boys (I remember from Years 6-8 the boys were in fake Arsenal jerseys). Ever since Zimmie entered Secondary, I haven't had to give money to the coach because when it comes to uniforms (football or otherwise), the boys, all grown up, takes matters into their own hands.
I noticed for the past two years or so, how football fun days have become a fashion parade of sorts, albeit that of a footie kind. At the JIS Fun Days noticeably, some teams come more dressed to impress than others. Nikes, Adidas, whathaveyous, in the jerseys of their favourite football teams complete with cool nicknames at the back (this year I noticed an entire team with names ending with -ski, e.g. I would be EmmaGoodEggSki) and not forgetting brand new, terribly expensive boots.
Zimmie, Hazim, Greg, Nicky and Nazim are in a 5-a side team for their school. Yesterday morning I walked onto the middle pitch pf the JIS football field where their game was about start and noticed their new white football jerseys, with a dash of yellow, red and green at the sleeves. I noticed too, the team badge that was on their shirts and saw it read 'Team Senegal'. The boys explained that they didn't collect enough money from each other to buy jerseys of a more famous team (or have matching shorts, socks, boots). I watched them look enviously at the better dressed teams as they learn that some kids can afford it, and most kids can't.
So Team Senegal played in the JIS Football Fun Day, but it wasn't a good day for Senegal, for they didn't make it to the final rounds. The boys played as best they could and wore their jerseys with panache, and I was damn glad my boys knew how to make the most of the dollars and cents they have.
Team Senegal In A Huddle
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