I simply enjoy this game!

I was not thinking that I was going to play soccer for too long.

While I developed my soccer skills playing with different teams at different times I was not expecting that my passion for the game would last too long. As a kid; I used to play the beautiful game in the streets or at an empty open space where cones, rocks or anything we could find would serve as the goal post.

Playing as a kid was the most fun because not only you get to dribble and make fun of your friends but also the exercise and skills improved everyday. I remember getting out of the house through a small window in the corner door. I was supposed to watch the groceries and other products that my mom sold in her store. Right!

After exiting the house, she screamed my name! Alex! Alex! Get back here! I would reply saying “I’ll be right back” But certainly I would return from playing with my friends after a few hours. The beautiful game was worth the spanking afterwards.

As I grew older I would put new cleats on and stepped to a soccer field to play with the big boys. I quickly made some friends that way; though some kids were not so friendly if I showed better soccer skills. I enjoyed when I started running from half field, dribbling some defenders and getting ready for a long-range shot. Sometimes I hit the post, sometimes I got blocked but a lot of times it just went up there to the upper 90. It felt so good.

Now I’m older; if I find the time to play in a pick up game I consider myself lucky. It is simply not the same anymore, I’m not as fast as I used to be, and I’m lucky if I can simply get a pass from my teammates. But, it is such a joy to find people in the afternoon to sweat and kick the ball around. The beautiful game is simply enjoyable!