The Man Who Invited Me To The Football “Tribe” by Football Tribe Japan

by Ippei Tsuchiya, deputy editor of Football Tribe Japan

We, human beings, have some pivotal moments in our lives. And it often caused by someone who has extraordinary talent or fascinating personality or both of them.

In my case, it was 1998, I was seven years old and the year that Japan achieved two very important accomplishments in Japanese sports history. Firstly, Japan hosted Winter Olympic Games in February of that year, and Japanese Olympians won 10 medals in total. Winter sports are not so popular in my home town, but I prefer Winter Olympic Games more than Summer Olympic Games since then.

Secondly, Japanese football national team appeared in FIFA World Cup for the first time in Japanese football history. They lost all three group stage games, but they competed with Argentina, there were Gabriel Batistuta, Claudio Lopez and Juan Sebastian Veron, and Croatia, there were Davor Suker, Robert Prosinecki and Zvonimir Boban, bravery and the most importantly they gave me a chance to watch the world football.

It has been 20 years since I strayed into the mysterious, strange, fascinating football wonderland. Those two big events which be held in that year had an impact on my personality, love travelling and living in the foreign countries and love watching and doing sports, but in case of my football life, one man stunned me in that year, actually in 1998 World Cup, and he caused my pivotal moment.

Dennis Bergkamp is the man who changed my life. He is one of the best footballers in Dutch history. A lot of spectacular plays he made and one of them, a goal he scored against Argentina in 1998 World Cup semi-final, was absolutely astonishing. It gave me goosebumps and showed me the real football.

He is my football hero. It’s weird that I am not an Arsenal or Ajax fan, strangely I am a Betis fan, but he always give me inspirations, I imitated his plays many times as a child, and joy to play football.

Now I am still crazy about football, possibly it’s more than before, and working in the Football Tribe. It may also be said that I am in the Football Tribe because of him. When I look back this moment, I always feel like that life is strange and beautiful.

Dennis Bergkamp is the man who caused my pivotal moment and invited me to the football “tribe”.

Feel the Passion
#JOINTHETRIBE

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Birth of Football Web Comic by Football Tribe Korea

Image
by Mihyun Chung, Chief Editor of Football Tribe Korea  My first boss at my first full-time job was this man - this man who is smart, clever, and confident. He never likes yes man, so is always open to challenges. He always protects his staff and presents a very clear vision and direction. He has got all the attributes that any boss would need.  Except that he supports Manchester United.  He is a big Man Utd fan. I still remember him saying "I'm very upset now because that Van Gaal sold Chicharito." It was very clear United was THE TEAM. So when asked which team I supported in Premiership, I did say "Glory Glory Manchester United," while Man Utd is the only team that I hate in England.  Not long after did I figure out he is more than happy with challenges. So I confessed that I do not support United.  Ever since then, every day at work was fun. He loves sarcastic jokes; and he absolutely adores football banter or even trash talks. That i...
Read more

The Day Malaysian Boys Made History in China by Football Tribe Malaysia

Image
by Keeshannan Sundaresan, Chief Editor of Football Tribe Malaysia Credit: AFC It was surreal. One day before a massive, massive decider against Saudi Arabia, Malaysian U-23 boss, Datuk Ong Kim Swee universally declared his intention to attack their opponents and go for a win. Best part? His statement was in response to Vietnam’s 1-0 win over Australia, which was yielded through a complete smash and grab performance. I clearly remember talking to a few friends and going: “Is he for real? Did he just say Vietnam’s win didn’t mean much because they were conservative on the pitch? Did he say that just one day before a cruncher against the mighty Saudis?” Malaysian football’s battle with inferiority complex has been ongoing for the last two decades or so, which if there are any individuals who have stood up against it, it’s Datuk Ong Kim Swee. From his mind-blowing team talk at the the 2011 SEA Games to all the young talents that have been moulded under him, Ong ha...
Read more