I know pretty sure that Africa is engulfed with African cup of Nations fever. I am also a proud African.
Despite the unfortunate and barbaric attack on Togolese team, I believe, the tournament will be a success.
The first game of the tournament was between the host nation Angola against Mali. The game deserves to be branded a spectacular come back in football. Although, I am not in a position to watch the tournament live at the moment, I followed that game on the internet.
After 75 minutes, it was not hard to feel pity for the poor Mali team which was four goals down. Conceding four goals to nil in football implies the game is dead and buried. Many football pundits will tell you that, if a team is more than two goals down the morale goes down, blaming comes into the scene, argument and counter arguments emerge. Some players throw their hands up in despair and sense of gloom.
A sense of helplessness sets in. Some mediocre teams go to the extreme of leaving the pitch. However Mali team did not behave in mediocrity fashion, they knew game is only over after the final whistle.
We can borrow a leaf from the performance of Mali team that played against Angola. Mali was four goals down at 79th minute, i.e. 11 minutes to time. At that point, Mali team needed a special miracle to score a goal, leave alone score four goals.
Although you feel as if time as run out, you can also make a difference in your life. Even if you feel you have only 11 minutes remaining, maximize on them and keep going.
With 11 minutes left without a goal, you would expect a team to panic and surrender to fate. Many teams would give up and concede defeat. But Mali team exhibited characteristics that I admired. The characteristics listed below helped them to keep going and drew 4-4 with Angola in the last 11 minutes.
Attitude
Your relationship might not be working. Your career seems to be in shambles. You feel as if you are in hell on earth. Many have written your demise and obituary. It is not time to buy their opinion. This is your time to come back and prove your critics wrong.
This is not the time to go around yelling blame and excuses. Maintain a ‘say no die attitude’. Keep working at your relationship. Keep putting effort in your career. Things will work out when you least expect.
When you think things are irredeemable, you will pull through and come back marvelously provided you maintain a positive attitude.
Keep Going
In life never give up. Never say it is over. Never surrender your life to fate.
We all know that we are supposed to keep going when things go wrong, but it is normally not easy to apply what we know. I understand that pretty well, I have been there. Ways to help you keep going while things turn upside down are:
-surround yourself with people who encourage you. Mali coach kept yelling instructions to his team while on the sidelines. He did not slump and surrender. You need such people to tell you to keep going. Make friendship with people who will keep kicking you in your direction even if things seem obviously uncertain.
-Look at the positives not negatives. After Mali scored one goal, they built on that. They gained confidence and determination. This helped them to keep going. Mali team did not concentrate their attention on the three goals deficit. They considered one goal as a stepping stone.
Look at positives in your boss, partner and colleagues. Instead of concentrating on the negatives, identify the positives and build on them.
Wait for the Final whistle
Football teams wait until the final whistle is blown.
Even if you think time is up, wait for the final whistle. Do not surrender before the final whistle. Before the final whistle is blown, anything can happen. Goals are scored, teams win and others lose. Some fans weep while others start laughing.
Ensure you are the one to be on the winning team and laughing after the final whistle goes.
Therefore, in life never say it is over before the final whistle. Provided you are breathing in oxygen, keep going, keep the faith, put effort, fight on and you will get rewarded.
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{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
oh corection, itr 4 33yrs.
futbol, soccer wht a game 2 play en watch.lt learn da lesions as u ve indicated. cuzo am watch egypt vs negiria en imagine egypt ave broken 47yrs history by beating negeria in an international match, quite entaining game.
Wau. Thanks for the great encouragement.
Wao, reminds me of 2007 and 2009, its never yours till you get it. It never lost till the whisle is blown.