Reserve Matches

Tuesday (5/19) and Wednesday (5/20) we had a reserve match. We played at our practice field. Both games were against a team of Mexicans who didn‘t speak much English. One was a college team, the other a men’s league team (interestingly, both were comprised of the same individuals). They were good players, mostly in their late 20’s. They brought their own ref each game which we had agreed upon beforehand as these are not official games. The first guy was good, but the second guy was a little biased. To each of their credit, however, it is very difficult to ref a game by yourself with no linesmen.

I started at center mid with a guy from Indiana Wesleyan University. Joe started at center forward and was a captain both games by our assistant coach (who is the reserve team coach). I was proud for him! We joked about this because I was his captain when we played at Cedarville. The first game went ok. Both teams played well. We lost 4-3.

The second game was very strange. We had one player who just cleared to play. His name is Likius, a midfielder, from Namibia. He is a professional who played in the premier league in Namibia. He is very, very good. Also, a new player just flew in who Dave Irby had been trying to get. A forward, Tete from Sierra Leone. He is a professional who played for the Sierra Leone national team and trained with AC Milan (a professional Italian football club). From the bit I saw him play I can safely say that I have never played with a guy of this quality.

It’s hard to explain in a few words of soccer detail the characteristics of how and why he is so good. So, I’ll have to try and use literary technique: Basically, I am a good player. The people who start for the main team are very good players. Likius is a very, very good player. Tete is a GOOD player. That’s pretty vague but, it's something like that. If you want to know more detail write me. Or come see a game (I’ll even get you in free).

So, all that to say, in the second game, we played the first half 1-1. Another side note, I took a free kick to the face at the end of the first half and our trainer says I may have a mild concussion. At the time, everything kept tilting to the left. I feel fine now though. In the second half Likius and Tete got subbed in and started to tear it up. Within minutes all the calls started to go against us (7 fouls in a row). We took some hard fouls that didn’t get called (one guy’s knee got cut up pretty bad and Tete took an elbow to the face on a header). Everybody got really upset and our coach called the game for our own safety (not to mention if our new prized players got hurt in a game that didn't really matter he would have been in big trouble). So, we did a cool down, stretched and left.