A very subjective look into AWFC

Simply put: we are living through really terrible times. Among many things, we are currently dealing with 2 simultaneous wars, horrific things happening through Africa, far right governments winning elections in South America, and an infinity of things added to that.

From a sporting/footballing perspective not everything is great either and an example of this is the whole situation transpiring with the Jamaican national team… a group of historic women who have systematically been taken advantage of for years and just take a second to contemplate the fact that if this is the stuff that we know, imagine the amount of abuse, sheer misogyny, and countless instances of discomfort that they have lived, as women, let alone footballers. It’s a lot.

To remain sane though, we must search for outlets and distractions. I definitely haven’t gone through wars or anything anywhere near as terrible but 4 years ago our house burned and it was a really tough, inconvenient and trying situation and oh yeah COVID hit months later too. During that time, among the things that gave me sustenance was AWFC, and more specifically the dutch contingent of DVD, Viv and Jill. They will always be at the very core of why I love Arsenal Women so much and as a dutch football fanatic, this meant much more than people can imagine.

So this team has been a constant source of inspiration, motivation and much more than what a bad result here or there can do or how it could make me feel. Unless the girls suffer, or when I see them cry or when I see them injured. That fucks me up, a lot. All of these things have a deep impact in my emotional composition. And to that point, not one moment in my life as a fan has had me more worried than when Viv did her ACL. But I was worried for HER, not that I didn’t think she couldn’t recover mentally or physically, I just worried about the amount of stuff she would have to deal with.

I don’t actually know Viv but I’d like to think that I have a good grasp on how elite she is in every way and that includes her vulnerability, how outspoken she is and of course how intelligent she is on and off the pitch, so I never ever want anyone like that, to suffer in any way, even if they’re gonna be better for it. Like I get it, I understand growth and expansion, but I don’t like the suffering or hard times for them right before the actual growth. Does that make sense?

313. That’s the amount of days since Viv last played. Listen… just counting to 313 at a steady pace is exhausting, imagine what it is dealing with recovery every single day, 313 days and counting. I couldn’t play drums for like 6 weeks earlier this year and I almost lost my shit.

I am proud beyond words. There’s not much more I can say aside from that. I’m honored to have been following her career and seen her play at least once in person. Today’s few minutes on the pitch were much more than minutes of course. It was almost a year, a goddamn year.

But let’s make one thing extremely clear.

That pass with her first touch is football reduced to one play. It’s basically like this: you either get what that pass is, what it meant, what it tried to do, how difficult it is, how natural it was for her, how logical it is, or you don’t. It’s that binary… on or off, you get it or you don’t.

If you know me, you know that Bergkamp is my number 1. After he retired the only person I ever compared to him was RVP and of course DVD and Viv are in that conversation, and I will say they overtook Robin to be fair. But anyway, Dennis has a very famous quote that I usually mention whenever I give a masterclass or speak at a school whenever I touch on the topic of intentional behavior. His quote is that: “behind every kick of the ball there must be a thought.”

That pass was it. Every pass has been it, every goal as been it, every touch of the ball has been it, every match watched has been it, every experience has been it.

Viv is IT.

Viv is football.

And…

The only way to be truly football is to transcend it.

To be more than the activity itself.

To BE and to BEHAVE in a way in which that gift is only part of who you are, even a small part at that.

To embody things that nobody could ever even begin to comprehend.

Our lives are better because of Viv, it’s just a fact.

d ❤

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