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I have been quizzed
repeatedly as to why football is my subject choice for this column. I
have never really asked myself this question on a ‘scientific basis’ –
all I know is that I enjoy everything associated with football whether
it is watching the game or writing about it. I have therefore taken
some time out to reflect on this issue and the result of my ‘time out’
is outlined below.

Simple dynamics

The frenzy and
passion associated with football as a sport is not in doubt. Very few
polo, hockey or golf lovers kill their wives or themselves or go on
hunger strike because their teams or players lost a match but it has
happened repeatedly in football. And before the cynical minded ones
start off thinking football lovers are probably more emotional than
most, let me add that we are not – it is the dynamics of the game. It
is like opium; it is highly addictive and engenders a deep passion that
equals perhaps that of religion. Football is loved and followed all
over the world and it cuts across all ages, class and races. Even
cricket loving nations like Australia place some premium on their
football teams judging from the nation’s reaction to their team’s
qualification for the 2010 World Cup.

The joy of football
is that it is egalitarian and easily accessible whether you are playing
or watching it. Anyone anywhere can pick up a ball and play. The
accessibility of the game is (permit me to say) unrivalled by any other
sport – for swimming, you need a pool of water, for golf you need the
ever expensive kit and clubs (never mind miniature golf!), for Polo –
don’t even go there.

There are some
sports that are deliberately not accessible to just anyone. Not
football though. The unparalleled demonstration of raw skill is another
drawing point – you can teach a man to hit the ball on the golf course,
swing the bat in cricket but in football you need to have the raw
talent first which can then be refined through training. Whether you
are in midfield, attack or defence everybody has a role to play. If you
have a good attack and your defence is leaking like a basket full of
water, then God help you.

A perfect football
team is one with an impregnable defence, tight midfield and excellent
attack. Let me quickly add that such a team does not exist on the face
of planet earth but some teams do tend to come close. My beloved
Arsenal on a good day will deliver sublime and exciting football for
the enjoyment of all.

Warfare and unpredictability

The game is almost
like warfare with a need to be tactical. Players are deployed in the
format (whether it is 4-4-2 or 5-3-2) that is best suited to their
talents and to match the expected formation of their opponents. You can
have all the skills of Pele or Diego Maradona but it can only take you
thus far.

Real Madrid
currently has 2 of the best players in the world – Kaka (2007 winner of
FIFA world footballer of the year) and Cristiano Ronaldo (winner in
2008) yet they are shockingly out of the 2010 UEFA Champions League
which leads to another point regarding the beauty of the game – it’s
not exactly logical – 2 plus 2 does not necessarily always equal four!
If you hate mathematics believe me football is the game for you.

One may at the
beginning of the football season guess that Manchester United will win
the Barclays Premiership league (since they have won it ‘gazillion’
times already!), but wonders have been known to happen in football and
it could jolly well end up being Arsenal holding the cup aloft at the
end of the season.

Unlike in other
games where a ‘comeback’ of individual players is possible a la Michael
Schumacher to Formula 1 at age 41years or George Foreman’s return to
professional boxing at age 38, in football whilst possible it may not
be feasible and if done it is usually in another guise probably as
coach or trainer. The physical demand of the game is such that most
individuals think twice about making this decision.

Merchandising is
huge in football so, identifying with your team even if you are not in
the same physical location is not a problem. How many sports have
branded mugs, wristwatches, bed sheets, bean bags…!

So, there you go. Football for all!