Playing football everyday (almost!)

When you talk about football, it played a big part of my childhood. Back then, there was no internet, no online games, no mobile devices. Apple was not even heard of then. The apple I knew was a fruit. I grew up with a lot of play pretend and physical toys some I actually built myself from scratch because toys were not really priority. 

When it was time to play, the kids will swarm the playground and empty grass patch (Believeit or not. There was plenty everywhere!). And don't forget the beloved void decks! Kids will be playing plastic balls at the void decks and neighbours will come and give pointers. Majid Arif (a famous soccer player in the era before Fandi) lived in our block and sometimes come and watch us. 

We played football during recess and after school. And we always had somebody to play with no matter where we are! So I literally grew up playing football. No ball no worries. Plastic balls were readily available. We used to combine our coins to buy one. And it costs around one dollar. Fun times!

World cup was watched on small boxes. I remembered my teen years supporting Brazil and imitating Bebeto who was playing upfront with Romario then. We even played football after our O level papers before returning home to prepare for the next paper! Even in JC, we were playing football so frequently. And it carries on to university and adult life. But the body canonly take as much. Where it can take the big football pitch once, now even a futsal pitch seems huge! And the knees.....oh how I miss the springy knees and ability to keep running, go home sleep and back to running around again. 

Thanks for reading! 😊