Okay, so, the “Thailand Cup” – sounds pretty official, right? Let me tell you, my experience was anything but. It all started with a random Facebook group I’m in, full of guys who, like me, think they’re way better at football than they actually are.
Someone posted, “Thailand Cup, anyone?” and I, fueled by cheap beer and a severe lack of good judgment, instantly replied, “I’m in!” Little did I know what I was getting myself into.
The “Preparation”
Preparation? Ha! We had a couple of guys who claimed they used to play “semi-pro” (which, in my experience, means they once got a free hotdog after a game).
- First step: We found a pitch that was less mud, more grass. Mostly.
- Second step: We got together the only football that look almost circle shape, and one of the guys promised to bring some “bibs”.
- Third step: We spent most of last week arguing about the team name. We ended up being “The Mighty Mangoes”. I have no words.
- Fourth step: Try to get a team together.
The Big Day
We showed up, The bibs turned out to be old, inside-out t-shirts that smelled suspiciously of mothballs. Charming.
The “match” itself was…a spectacle. I spent most of my time trying not to fall over. There were more air kicks than actual kicks, and the ball seemed to have a personal vendetta against staying in bounds.I tripped, maybe five times? And, I’m pretty sure I accidentally kicked one of my own teammates. Sorry, Dave!
Our “star player,” the one who swore he played semi-pro, spent most of the game complaining about the ref (who, by the way, was just some random kid we bribed with a can of soda). And, get this, he pulled his hamstring in the first ten minutes. Classic.
The Aftermath
We lost. Badly. I think the score was something like 12-1, and our only goal was an own goal from the other team. But hey, at least we had fun, I have sore muscles I didn’t even know existed, and a collection of truly embarrassing photos.
Would I do it again? Probably. Am I good at football? Absolutely not. But hey, that’s the “Thailand Cup” experience, right? It’s not about winning, it’s about…well, I’m not entirely sure what it’s about, but it sure is something. I would never forget it.
