Issue 8, March 2007: Father & Son

Issue 8: May 2007

Father & Son - A Star Is Born

Mathew, a skinny little primary school boy, loved to play Rugby with all of his heart. He eagerly gave everything he had at training, but being only half the size of all his other teammates he got absolutely nowhere. At the games this hopeful athlete sat on the bench and hardly ever got a chance to play.

Mathew lived alone with his dad and the two of them had a special bond, a wonderful relationship. Even though Mathew sat on the bench for most of the games, his dad always came along and cheered from the grandstand. He never missed a game.

When Mathew entered high school, he was still the smallest of the class. Mathew´s dad encouraged him but also made it very clear that he did not have to play Rugby if he didn't want to. But Mathew loved Rugby and decided to hang in there. He was determined to try his hardest at each training session and perhaps he´d get a chance to play if the opportunity presented. All through high school he never missed neither a training session nor a single game but remained a benchwarmer for all 6 years of high school. His faithful dad was always in the stands and always had words of encouragement for him.

Mathew was a persistent young athlete who never missed a game, always tried harder than anyone else at training, yet never played a game in 6 years. One week before the final series was to start the coach took Mathew aside just before training one afternoon and gave him a telegram. Mathew read the telegram and went deathly silent. Swallowing hard he mumbled to the coach "My father died this morning. Is it alright if I miss training today?" The coach put his arm around Mathew´s shoulder and said "Take the rest of the week off and don´t even come to the game next Saturday."

Saturday arrived and the game was not going well. In the second half, when the team was down 12 points, a silent young man quietly slipped into the empty dressing room and pulled his football gear on. As he ran onto the sideline his coach and players where astounded to see their faithful teammate back so soon.

Approaching the coach, he said, "Coach please let me play. I´ve just got to play today." The coach pretended not to hear him. There was no way he wanted to let his worst player out there in this close playoff game. But Mathew kept at him constantly badgering him, until the coach, feeling sorry for him, and gave in. "All right." He said, "You can go in."

Before long, the coach, the players, and everyone in the grandstand could not believe their eyes. This little unknown, who had never played before, was doing everything right. The opposing team could not stop him. He ran, kicked, tackled and passed like a star. His team began to overcome their opponents. The score was soon tied. In the closing seconds Mathew intercepted a pass and ran 90 metres and scored under the black dot on the goal post.

The supports from both sides broke loose. His teammates hoisted him onto their shoulders. Such cheering you have never heard. Finally, after the grandstand had emptied and the team had showered and left the dressing rooms, the coach noticed Mathew quietly sitting alone in a corner. The coach came up to Mathew and said "Kid, I can´t believe it. You were fantastic! Tell me, what got into you? How did you do that?"

He looked at his coach, tears in his eyes, and said, "Well, you knew that my dad died, but did you know that my dad was blind?" Young Mathew swallowed hard and forced a smile. "Dad came to all my games right through primary and secondary school. But today was the first time he could see me play, and I wanted to show him I could do it!"

Author Unknown

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