Opinion Articles

SOUL MATTERS: There's always someone to put the boot in
By Bruce Manners

I was there for each of Australia’s World Cup matches—in the lounge room there. The first game was difficult, kind of embarrassing, actually.

The 4 – 0 drubbing by Germany had commentators looking for blame and “Reper” responding to an ABC news story by asking the question, “Will someone put their hand up and admit that we’re not an international soccer nation?”

“Hank” said, “We played like a bunch of school kids. The team was lazy, undisciplined, no cohesion and no intelligence.”
This kind of attitude teaches a life lesson. In fact, watching our team play taught a few lessons.

Lesson in life 1: When you’re down, it seems there’s always someone who’ll put the boot in.

Fortunately, there were other voices. “Markitos,” a German who had lived in Australia, was supportive. He said he was surprised at how well Germany played. Because of this he felt Australia had a real chance of winning against Ghana and Serbia. “So good luck, Mates!” (Hear the German accent?).

Lesson in life 2: When you’re down, encouragement helps get you back on your feet.

The team played the next game with poise and daring to get a 1 – 1 result against Ghana. They had to play well after Harry Kewell was red-carded and sent off in the first half. It was a brave draw—no bunch of school kids here, “Hank”.
Playing a man down made it difficult, but the endeavour made you proud. They may not have won (or lost), but their mojo was back.

Lesson in life 3: Stuff happens. Deserved or not, stuff happens.

The final game was a tense affair, particularly in the scoreless first half. I’ll admit to a little Tom Cruise lounge dancing for both Australian goals in the second half.

Then there was the deflation of the Serbian goal. The commentators reckoned Australia had to win by two goals to reach the next round. The Serbian goal wasn’t in my script, and no matter how much I willed it Australia couldn’t find another goal.

Lesson in life 4: You can’t help win the game from the couch.

The ref’s whistle was an anti-climax. It was over. We’d won, but we were a goal short and out of the World Cup.

Lesson in life 5: Sometimes you can have a win and still lose.

We’ve all been there. We’ve all had our wins. Our losses. Our failures. That’s merely a part of life. The wins are glorious. But when we lose we don’t usually need reminding that we failed—that’s when we need support and respect, and encouragement.
Soccer is unpredictable, particularly at World Cup level, and you never quite know what’s going to happen on the day. Like life, there are no guarantees about what will or what won’t be thrown at you.

Oh, one more lesson. In soccer there’s always the next match, the next season or the next World Cup. But soccer is only a game. Life isn’t.

Bruce Manners is pastor at Avondale College Church, Cooranbong. This article is submitted by the Churches Media Association www.cmahunter.com.au.

*This article was published in The Herald, 28th June 2010