THE MOST EMBARRASING MOMENT OF MY LIFE
It was an inter-regional Senior High School soccer competition, and my school being the zonal champion was to play with another school to determine the regional champion.
It was 7am and already one could tell the day is going to be sunny, as the sun had already started showing its ugly face.
By 8am my team members had assembled at the school assembly hall, dressed in the school navy blue and golden yellow track suite, I was called to address my team mates. Since I was the captain of the school team, I was filled with anxiety and overwhelming thought as I began to speak to them. Although I do not remember exactly what I said to them, I felt everyone was energized with a winning spirit.
We all entered the bus, prayed and began to sing till we got to the El-wak sports stadium.
The stadium was filled with students from the participating schools, spectator institutions and the enthusiastic public spectators.
As I led my team out of the bus to the changing room, I could hear cheers and rowdy applause from the crowd; the feeling was great as I felt the need to put up my very best. Achimota Senior High School, the opposing school also join in and we were all ready for the kick-off whistle.
The Achimota school team were dressed in dark green and white jersey and we were in navy blue and golden yellow. We were the first to enter the field and fear grips were visible on my face when I saw the opposing team came out looking tall, enthusiastic and poised to start the game, but I felt a new lease of life when my coach put the captains band on my arm and tap my shoulder as if to say “I trust you can do It”.
The referee blew the whistle and the opposing captain and myself went closer to him and tossed a coin. I won the toss so I had the opportunity to choose my preferred side of the field to start the game. I quickly signal my team mate and we all positioned ourselves ready to kick the ball. We went through the first half without a goal from either sides.
The second half was more ecstatic, as a team mate dribbled about three opposing players and gave me a pass which I didn’t waste time at all with a bicycle kick into the net. And the whole stadium went ablaze with joy and a loud shout of gooooal!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! chanting and singing with excitement. Under five minutes the opposing team equalized. At the end of the 90minutes (full time), it was 1 all draw. The match commissioner then decided we play an extra 30 minutes. We battled through the 30 minutes without a winner as none of us scored any goal.
My greatest fear for my team was playing penalties. Everyone knew am very good at it but I was scared for my team. Fear gripped me as the referee whistled at the end of the extra time and signalling that each team must select their best five to play the penalty. I was the number one selection for my team, so I stepped aside waited for the coach to select the other four. As I stood there, my legs began to tremble and the animals in my tommy began to jump. All of a sudden the field was blur, I could no longer stand so I sat on the field with my head buried between my thighs.
As the best penalty player and the captain of my team. I was to take the first penalty for my side. To motivate my team members and scare the opposing side. This is the moment to show my skills, but my spirit was shattered with fear as I stood behind the ball facing the opposing goal keeper. I went back a bit, took one, two steps forward to kick the ball. Unfortunately, I kicked the ball with the wrong side of my foot and it was over the bar. The whole stadium went to grave, everywhere was quite. I wanted to disappear or for the ground to open its mouth and swallow me up. What a mess not a miss, I can’t forgive myself ever. I flooded myself in my tears and didn’t know what went on after my kick. Later, my friends with uncontrolled excitement came to hug me and the supporters of my team lifted me on their shoulder singing, and cheering. We have worn the match after all but I was never of myself till date when I recall the incident.