Saturday is also Day for Sports

Ever since childhood days Saturday was always a day to take part in sports. Now that I have reached an age where active involvement with sports on field is not for me, my involvement continues in many other ways. This last Saturday was no exception.

Tervarit Reds in a Group Huddle before the game.

Soda, who plays regularly for the Tervarit Blacks, was invited to play for the Reds, a slightly senior team to the one he plays for. I decided to take some time to see how he would fare.

A piercing scream and Soda is DOWN.

He played quite well except that three minutes before half time he fell down with a piercing scream - he had pulled a muscle on his calf.


Thai friends Yut and Khim share Soda's pain off the field.

This, from my long history of playing sports, is the common downfall of a player who refuses to take care of his personal fitness training as jogging and normal muscle strengthening exercises, a bad diet combined with bad resting habits. It is trifecta. It is obvious that in this fast western life-style that the young boy from Thailand with enormous talent has got used to, is also the beginning of his downfall as a possibly great sportsperson.

It is possible to cover up these "injuries" a couple of times. But soon it will become evident to the coaches and talent scouts that the boy is not really serious about his sports as he prefers the fast life associated with running around as a youngster in the town of Oulu.

The choice however is his and only his to make!

That is sad as I have watched this enormously talented youngster being overtaken in calibre on the field by many young Finns who make up for their lack of natural talent by a dedication to their personal health and their personal fitness.

It is really decision time for this youngster - as no one is going to sponsor an injured horse, however much the talent points in his direction.


Samu at his training session.


Samu with his Newcastle United shirt bearing No. 9,
Alan Shearer's number, in a passing session with his team-mate.

The ideal opposite is my other grandson young Samu, who makes up his game by an enormous dedication to the sport of football and his involvement with training, come hell or high water. He follows the careers of all the football greats and tries to emulate many of their feats.

That is dedication!

The excitement on-field was increased as Soda's keys to his cycle, the house and his locker, were lost on the playing field. I took his cycle home in my car after trying to find the keys on the miles of green turf - unsuccessfully.

Luckily, someone found the key bunch and turned it in to the groundsman, and Soda's dad and I collected it from him on Sunday morning!

Saturday afternoon was also Rugby Day, as the Oulu team was playing against the lead Finnish side from Helsinki.

Rugby is a great sport. It is far more exciting top watch than football. The player and referee involvement at each stage is intense.

Although the Oulu side played well, for most part they were defending their goal, and the Helsinki side marched through victorious 27 points to 5.


For the uninitiated, a Rugby Ball!


Helsinki player rises gigh to take possession of the throw-in.


This time it is Oulu's turn to jump high.


Half-time pep talk from the Oulu coach.
Captain Jarmo Stoor listens carefully!


Not a Group Huddle - a fierce Scrum Down!

I do hope Oulu finds some new players as some of their players are recovering from injuries or are playing injured!



However, well done Oulu - I will be there at your home games to support you. I see more and more poeple turning out to support this sport and our Oulu team.