Day 3 was a relaxation day. But soccer's still very much on my mind. Tomorrow’s Thanksgiving Sunday (here in Canada), and since that’s when most people celebrate the holiday, another day’s rest (& family time) is likely in the forecast for this weekend. Monday, we’ll be back in business… training, dieting, analyzing my performance/physique to date, etc. But I have a few thoughts about my FC Supra journey until then.
4 to 6
As every soccer fan, enthusiast, coach, and player know… the team begins each game with an 11-player lineup. And 23 make the primary roster. But that doesn’t mean I have 23 opportunities to become part of the team. It’s more like 4 to 6 (or, in other words, potentially 4, 5, or 6) opportunities. The reasoning is simple; I’m a forward, and each team carries with them 4 to 6 total players specialized in this position. In reality, I’m a mezzapunta (i.e., an attacking midfielder or, more accurately, a central forward positioned between the midfielders and the striker), but I digress.
Another factor to take into account (regarding my potential inclusion in FC Supra) is the number of players (and, once again, forwards particularly) trying out. Will there only be 4 to 6 (forwards, that is)? I highly doubt it. The province I’m from has a semi-pro league (i.e., Ligue1 Quebec) consisting mostly of competitive, up-and-coming, young players. They’re hungry, but not everyone can commit to being a full-time professional soccer player… especially below a certain age. That being said, quite a few will attend. Just not as many as most people would anticipate for a team of this stature. So, my odds are good! Haha.
Being My Best
In all seriousness, I’m not concentrating on other players’ performance. I need to focus on my own. The FC Supra founder, Rocco Placentino, who impressively played pro soccer in Italy (both Serie B and Serie C), often describes what he’s looking for in this new team’s players with a single word: grinta (translated [from Italian] into English as ‘grit’, meaning determination and a strong fighting spirit). It’s something I know I have.