New York, New York!
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- We just got back from New York! OK, not "just". About 2 weeks already. But we are still jet-lagged. I have been going to work and hitting the sack the moment I get home. About 7.30pm. Incredible. The boys go to sleep at about 8.30pm and wake up at about 7am. The jet-lag is working out well for the boys - finally they are sleeping the correct time they are supposed to be sleeping and waking up with time for a decent breakfast! Not a 5 minute meal and a mad dash to school.
- I will write more on our NY trip after I recover from the jet-lag and stay awake long enoough.
- Yesterday was a public holiday in Japan. The Japanese Thanksgiving. The public holiday was "thank you for the employment" day.
- I was looking forward to a lie-in yesterday (yet another lie-in to be honest, I have slept through the whole of the last weekend, waking up just for meals and a ballet class!). But alas, was dragged to a football/soccer match. Ever since Tomo's dad sold his company, we have been going to soccer matches played in Tokyo/Yokohama by FC Oita. Oita is in Kyushu. We have never been to Oita. But we support their soccer team! That is because Tomo's new company is a sponsor of FC Oita and we get free tickets. Well, it is not so much the free ticket that brings us to theses matches but this team, when they play in Tokyo/Yokohama, they hardly have supporters as they are at an "away" game. So the sponsors try to get as many people in to support them as they can. So Tomo being the good company employee always drags us all their games.
- But yesterday's game was different. FC Oita has been in J2 all year (the second league in Japan). If they win yesterday's game, they will move on the J1 - the first tier! It was a huge thing for them. It was being played in Tokyo at Yoyogi Stadium. They were playing against Chiba. If Chiba wins, Chiba would be the team moving on to J1. Chiba is right next to Tokyo. The moment we entered the stadium, the place was awashed in supporters dressed in yellow - Chiba's colour. There was a little section of blue - FC Oita's colour. We joined the group in blue. We were so outnumbered. Many of the FC Oita supporters had actually flown in to Tokyo from Kyushu just for the game. There were also many single men of all ages who came and sat alone.
- It was raining throughout the game! The rain was light at times, moderate at other times and heavy at certain times. I did not have a raincoat on me as I thought we would be sheltered (as the previous stadiums we went to had shelter). I had a big umbrella with me. A golf umbrella to be precise. But I felt I could not use it. It just felt rude to be opening it and obstructing the people behind me. I noticed that most people just put up with the rain even though they had umbrellas with them. So I did the same. Do as the Romans do, as they say.
- The game was ironical on a few levels. We won. But we should not have. FC Chiba was clearly the stronger team. They passed well and seldom lost the ball. They were on the offensive right from the start and attacked all throughout. Shooting ball after ball in the direction of the goal post. Our side was just lethargic and sluggish. They could not run. They could not pass. Almost every single time when they tried passing, they lost the ball. We did not even have much of a chance to attack and kick a ball into the goal post. But we had an amazing goal-keeper. He was just brilliant. Seriously, if not for him, the score would easily have been at least 6-0 after the first half. But because of him, it was 0-0 after the first-half. It was still 0-0 as we neared the end of the second half. If the game ended 0-0, there would be no extra time. FC Chiba would go on to J1 based on their past performance (number of goals scored in the past season). 5 mins before the game ended, as FC Chiba was attacking, the ball got into the feet of an FC Oita player. He noticed that the pitch was clear in the other half and so raced across the pitch with the ball, came one-on-one with FC Chiba's goalkeeper, lobbed the ball above his head - and GOAL! Oh my goodness, we supporters erupted! There was an old man in front of us who was there alone. I have never seen a 70-odd year old man literally jumping up and down with joy.
- As the game continued for another 5-odd minutes to the end, the old man in front of us started putting his hands together and praying. Definitely an ardent fan. FC Chiba deperately tried to score in those 5 mins but our goalkeeper was too good for them. Seriously, it may as well have been just the whole of FC Chiba versus our goalkeeper. Then the final whistle blew and it was official - we won and we are advancing to J1. Just goes to show - "may the best man win" does not always hold true. We just got lucky with 1 opening and made the most of it. I felt very sorry for FC Chiba. Their supporters were so dejected and quiet.
- So FC Oita did the victory lap. And then came the live interviews. They interviewed the manager. They interviewed the guy who scored. But they did not interview the goalkeeper! Life ain't fair, is it? The scorer gets a higher profile for his 1 effort in a few seconds. But the true hero of the game who deflected ball after ball for all 90 mins of the game is forgotten.
- And here is the last irony. When they interviewed the scorer on how he felt when he score, it was met with a pause. And they he replied that he had many emotions about scoring - because he used to play for FC Chiba and had just transferred to FC Oita!
- We later watched the sports news coverage on the game at home and I am glad that NHK commented that FC Oita had a brilliant goalkeeper. He should get that recognition!