We are the (slightly stunned) champions

Previous posts to this blog have revealed that I chose to play mixed futsal (a six-a-side variation of soccer/football, with both male and female players on the teams) in the second half of this year, run through the Uni’s sports centre and involving groups of interested people from various departments. In addition to the abundance of contusions and a thumb dislocation experienced by yours truly, our team did not perform particularly well during the 10-week second semester season. We managed a couple of draws, but finished at the bottom of the ladder and in the playoff for 9th and 10th spots, we lost. Narrowly, but we lost. We were, however, heartened by the fact that we improved as the season progressed.

Ben, our player-manager, decided that we should enter the post-semester mini-competition.

This season began spectacularly well, with a 5-0 win. (I now have to confess that the other team forfeited, as they all had an exam that day!)

We then managed a draw, followed by our first-ever legitimate win. The only down-side to this win was that Ben, who has organised the team for several years during its record-setting non-winning streak, actually missed this match.

The following week we managed another draw, and so, coming into the final week of the round-robin competition, we found ourselves at the top of the ladder. We managed to bring together most of the players who played for us during the season, which gave us plenty of substitutes to choose from (a bonus on the hot day it turned out to be).

We had a really good game, lots of great passing and fancy footwork, that belied the poor outcomes of our earlier season … and when the full-time whistle blew we had won 3-1. And Ben was there this time.

We also think the oranges at half-time helped. The other thing that may have helped is that several weeks ago I replaced Ben’s goalie’s gardening gloves with a proper set of keeper’s gloves. This made me feel much more professional!

I can now retire … or at least command a large transfer fee for any team that wants an aging, bruise-prone goalie in Hobart.