We Were All The Same.

"He was the one who punched me during the game!"

"We played clean, it's them."
"We've got all bumps and bruises. They're crazy when we played clean!"

Perhaps what was given to us was not to our liking, but it may have been the best for us.

On the 31st December of 2013, my New Year's eve was celebrated with a can of coke; some cheers and
jolly with my friends. No fireworks. No firecrackers. Yet, no noises we made. And I thought it was
the most quiet-est New Year's eve that I ever had.
Not that I wanted to say everytime it's New Year, I went out and hangout with my friends here and
there or what but it had never been so quiet and steady; as if the day was just another normal day that
passed by.

On the 1st January of 2014, the morning of my New Year was celebrated by the game I loved. Rugby.
It was a great game and it made my day well.

It's just weird that on the start of new year, we had a few bruises. Nothing much on me, I've
just got few scratches, a few muscular cramps but nothing serious. Last time was much worse where
I twisted, dislocated and fractured my own finger.

Well now I'm okay, still playing. Haha.

Oh yeah, my team won. And on the day itself, I finally knew my team's name; "Chiefs".
I had know idea where did they pick it up. Probably they took it from a rugby team, "Kaiser Chiefs".
It was the favourite team of Nelson Mandela, by the way.

And yes it was really ironic because our main reason was to play for fun. We didn't even care to
win the game but we did won in the final game. Wasn't such a big deal or fuss to make about.
I was as just grateful that things turned well. And it didn't turned that sour.

I knew that it would be a great experience because I was playing with players that have different
backgrounds and a few styles that I could learn. It was indeed a fun to discover how big is it, the world
of sportsman and the variety of people's perception and thinking.

But today, what I am typing about isn't only about sportsmanship. It is about how well do we look into
a situation and decide the best for ourselves.
At first, I didn't get to play along with my friends and team mates. The ones I usually played with on
every evening. But then I decided to play with the other team, thinking that I might as well learn something
new and valuable, going through another side of perspective from another person.

Admit it. We are all imperfect. We all had weaknesses that we strive to hide them away.

But imagine if we kept on blaming others, finding their fault instead of our own, would it benefit
our own good? Would anything change within ourselves if we do not learn something from our own eyes?

This is what we commonly do. We tried to find the fault of others so hard that we didn't even realize
we too, make mistakes.
This is foolish. It is selfish at the same time, to think we always had the "right way of thinking" while
the others had it wrong. Unknowingly at the same time when we do that, we had people who were watching
us from far with such dislikeness, over the egoistic value that we had.

Even if my team had won, it wasn't the team that I used to play every evenings. It was quite hard to know
and recognize every players in my new team; their style of playing or whatsoever.

To be honest, I was happy. But on the other shore of my heart, I wasn't. Had I got the chance to play with
them, I would probably lost the final game, but I would be happy to be able to play with my friends, whom
I had known for 4 long semesters.

However, I am grateful that my new team tried their best and won. They weren't quite fond of their seniors
like me (they had been here for 2 semesters and thus, they are my juniors), but they were happy
since my presence was helpful and they were happy of my performance. If not, they would be short on players.

The match ended with a drop-goal kick, making us leading by 3-0.

I was also a bit sad because the spirit of the game isn't well celebrated by players. Some players lack
that sportsmanship spirit. We can't always think the win or lose factor, regardless whatsoever games or
competitions you played. It's how you enjoy and play the game that matters. That's what most people
forgot about when they play any sorts of sports.

Foul-play or not, we are all the same.
Why blaming or pointing-fingers must be so much important than to enjoy the game? Why can't you try your
best in competing the game? So what if others had actually injure you in such violent manner, out of the
rules?
You are no different than those who did bad to you, when you did bad to them back. In sports, it is
unnecessary. Even if you are in anguish, there is much honour, pride and fun when you try your best, giving
your effort in playing by abiding the rules.

Let them know who is the best, when you try your best.
In that way, you can feel that it isn't just about the game. It is about having fun and finding greater
challenges in your life, for you to learn something more. So that later you can treasure them in your life.
It is friendship, life, friends. It is something beautiful, something you would treasure later in your
life as part of your precious memory.

Though I have played since my high school years, with a few matches up until today, I still think it isn't
something that I could be proud of. I am very sure that there are more who are better than me but still.
Here what I wanted to share isn't about the match itself, or solely my own personal experience.

But it is to show what most of us forget. To show that if we had done better in enjoying the game, we
might have had a great game. Like I said, something that you could treasure in your whole life.

I don't know why but I love this photo. hahaha.

Oh yeah. Turning 20 by 5th January. Ciao.
Asyraf Amir. 20140103.