A South American Dream From My Father
My father was a great man, and the reason you are reading this. He had been destined to play for Argentinian club Independente but was denied a contract after he was involved in a shooting and lost his left arm. At the age of 20 he was left with nothing. So he decided to volenteer at a local junior team called Jumial. Somehow he juggled managing a football team and working for a small shop that gave him enough income to keep a livelehood.
He made the children play fluid attacking football and took them to made them the best team in the region of Catamarca. He was loved by the people of Jumial and was widely known around the region. But at the age of 27 he met a woman, to be my mother and quit football management all together.
They moved to Uruguay, and on 9th May 1986 I was born in a small terraced house. He taught me how football was an attacking game and defending was not an option. For him it was better to lose 4-3 than to scrape a 1-0 victory. So I played for my local club as a poacher, My goal was to score, and everyone else passed it to me. My Confidence wasn't misleading, as I captained the club to an unbeaten run of 3 seasons, getting top scorer for those 3 seasons.
When I was 18, my father was diagnosed with cancer, and I cared for him as i was out for a 2 weeks with a pulled groin. He persuaded the manager to let me play through the injury and he watched in a wheelchair as I struck in my 4th hatrick of the season. Each time I scored I gave my dad a hi-5 and crossed myself. Mixed emotions.
My father died the next day.
My Mother got a breakthrough at her business and got enough money to get me to collage, I decided to study sports psychology and after three years I returned to find my mother with and comfortable living, owning a regional business. She had enough money to let me gain invaluable experience in football managing by managing the team that I played for in my teenage years. However I wanted to make something of myself, and not have to rely on my mother. So I got a cheap agent and said to my mother "Dont give me any more money, because I'm going to be famous, for dad."
"For dad" She replied.
So I will only go venture outside of South America when my manager gets a good reputation and has lots of experience. Started as a sunday league footballer 25 years. I'll post more when I get a job
