Steven Gerrard

I've shared my obsession for Steven Gerrard and Liverpool Football Club on this blog before and then a couple of weeks ago I went through the uprooting of my life and moving to another city and my blogging took a dip. I did spend a lot of time on Twitter and Instagram sharing reflections about him but he deserves a post which is dedicated to him.

At the beggining of the year, Steven Gerrard announced that he would be leaving Liverpool FC and I was beyond heartbroken. I watched his interview where he discussed it and I cried my eyes out, in fact as I recall it and while I am typing this my eyes are filling with tears again. 

You see, I've read Stevie's books (more than once each) and I know him as much as he's allowed the fans into his life. I have watched any documetary I could get my hands eyes onto and I have loved this man - so much. I wish I could pin point what it is that I love about him but I think it's everything, it's his insipring nature, his beautiful blue eyes, the permanent frown lines, he's incredible talent and his overwhelming passion. This man is a man. He's had a lot of tough moments as a Liverpool player and captain and he's come out on the other side the better man for it. 

I've often said to my family if I could find a man that I love even half as much as I love Stevie, I would be happy for the rest of my life. I know that sounds strange but there's this odd feeling I get when I see posts or read articles or think about this man so I know the way I love him is sort of how I would love my husband, unconditionally and with admiration for the man that he is. However, I digress, this post isn't about my future husband, no, it's of Stevie. 

You see, this weekend the new English Premier League started and a part of me dreaded it. I love EPL football but the fact that Stevie wouldn't be featuring in it just felt wrong. I've spent over 10 years watching and loving this man and this team and well, obsessing over him and suddenly I've felt slightly lost. So yesterday was the game, Liverpool FC versus Stoke City FC and it was good because we won but as it ended I really just missed seeing Stevie playing. 

In case you were wondering, Stevie is still playing football or soccer now for LA Galaxy. He's even scored already... he looks so happy with is family in LA, I swear Alex Gerrard was made for Hollywood. I am so pleased that he has adapted to LA life but I will miss him being a part of the EPL. It's just not the same without him... 

Also today is a public holiday in South Africa because yesterday was Women's Day but because it fell on a Sunday we get Monday off and while I'm still working it's a more relaxed mode.. so if you're in SA or wherever you find yourself in the world, have a great Monday!!! 

Confessions of a Football Loving Girl {Link Up #8}

Good morning everybody!!! 

Can't believe it's Wednesday already and this week I decided to theme my humpday confessions with Kathy because, I didn't have enough interesting confessions to share I wanted too. 

I've made it no secret that I love watching soccer or football (whatever you want to call it) but I'm not sure I've told you why...so let's get into it. 

I confess : 

* my dad started a soccer team when I was four years old and that's where I was surrounded by soccer games and training and men with sons

* I was mostly the only girl with my mom and the other footballer's wives

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* This team went on for almost twenty years and through the years the friends I made along the way made different reactions 

age 4 :

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age 12:

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age 18:

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* Guys always say they want a girl who appreciates soccer but then we go on a date and I know more and they look at me like this...

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* A couple of years ago, a friend and I walked into a store after a big championship game had been on the night before and one of the coaches had lost it.

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The guys in the store started talking loud about what happened but then they were contradicting one another so I very easily told them what happened and they all look embarrassed and well, didn't say much more to us.. 

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So basically, every time I thought my knowledge would enhance a conversation with a guy it actually highlights their lack of knowledge and that's never comfortable.

*Despite the above confession, I still love to watch the game. My teams were eliminated very early in the tournament but I have continued to watch every game including Brazil's historic loss to Germany.

What are you confessing this week???

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L is for Liverpool Football Club (A to Z Challenge)

I don't ever remember not being a Liverpool Football Club fan. When I was younger I was surrounded by majority of Manchester United's fans in the beginning of Man U's glory days. I grew up in a house where my dad and I are the Liverpool fans and my mother and brother are Man U fans. It was tough. It was not Liverpool' finest hours but it taught me a lot about what it means to be a football fan.

Being a Liverpool FC fan has not been easy but I think it's the reason that being a true fan has been so character building. Yes, I've had the benefit of watching and supporting the greatest comeback in European Championship history by winning the Champions League in Istanbul to when Steven Gerrard inspired the winning FA Cup final against West Ham in 2006  but other than that, supporting Liverpool has been challenging. Challenging but worth it. 

Look How Excited I was!!! 

In the midst of the LFC vs Manchester City game yesterday (Which LFC won!!!) my mom was making fun of the fact that Liverpool had lost the two goal lead and I remember saying to her "This isn't just for fun" to which she laughed because Soccer is supposed to be fun. However for me and for most Liverpool fans, it's not just about fun. It's passion, love and loyalty. 

Perhaps the reason Liverpool fans feel so much for their team is that our current leader, Captain Fantastic, Steven Gerrard is so incredibly passionate about Liverpool and despite his once youthful wavering mind to leave Liverpool, loyalty trumped his ambition. 

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I cannot explain how much I adore supporting my team, through wins, losses or draws - I have shouted with joy at their wins and I have cried with their losses. When I visited Liverpool a couple of years ago, it truly was one of my favourite memories and while a lot of people asked about Scousers and how they treated me, I only have good things to tell. 

I'm trying to keep this post short, which is extremely difficult because this is a topic I feel so much passion for but I will say that when you support a team, any team ... there's a difference in supporting and being passionate about them.

Have you ever been passionate about a team or sport or player?

Football Friday : South Africa vs Spain - A Dream Game for SA

On Tuesday evening I made my way to the FNB Stadium (Soccer City, during the 2010 Soccer World Cup) this is the stadium where I watched Justin Bieber perform, where Spain became world champions for the first time and where South Africa shocked Spain into their second defeat of the year.

 

 

 

I honestly battled to decide who I would be supporting because Spain is my favourite team and well, Bafana is my Country. So I decided the way any girl would - which shirt looked better and it turned out to be Spain.

 

Dean's reaction to Bafana's goal

 

Of course at that time I did not think I was going to get caught on camera at the end of the game and then receive several messages from friends who saw me!

 

BUT believe it or not, that was not the most exciting thing that happened to me that night - the most exciting thing that happened was Pepe Reina waving at Charne and me! It was an awkward wave - because Charne and I were the only two waving like crazies but it was so worth it because not only is he hot, he plays for Spain and is a Liverpool favourite :)

 

 

 

The game was so much fun and it really helped me feel better because I've been having a bit of a tough time. There was so much eye candy going around, I was so entertained! I even spotted this guy who is so channelling Harvey Spector. 

 

 

 

Anyway, enough with the stalking pictures - I had an amazing experience even though Spain lost.

What's the most exciting thing that happened to you this week?

 

Bucket List - Liverpool FC vs Kasier Chiefs LEGENDS Game

I don't think it's accurate to include this particular game on my bucket list because I would have never thought it would be possible to even watch some of the players I did watch.

On Friday, I mentioned how excited I was and I had no idea how that would only be the tip of the iceberg.

I bought the Liverpool Tattoo when I visited Liverpool in 2010 ~ I knew it would finally come in handy

Last week was rough for me, work was rough and my sleeping patterns were completed messed up and if I thought that was hectic, things only got worse when we almost missed our flight because we were running a little late and the lady helping us well, didn't help! She printed my ticket twice and my dad was left without a ticket then when we finally all had tickets I thought my flight wasn't boarding so I went to buy a book and almost missed my flight. So if you were in OR Tambo on Friday and saw a girl running thought - it was me!

When we arrived at King Shaka International, none other than Kaiser Chiefs (and more so Bafana Bafana) legend - Doctor Khumalo was on my flight and he was nice enough to take a quick picture with me.

Back to the game, I was so psyched on Saturday to see so many Liverpool fans and for the short time it felt like we were all going to see Liverpool play at Anfield. When You'll Never Walk Alone was playing at the beginning of the day, it was definitely a "MOMENT".

Liverpool lost over penalties but the game was played in such a good spirit and there were so many goals it really was a great experience.

When leaving Durban on Sunday evening I then bumped into Liverpool FC legend, Bruce Grobbelaar and I am so happy that I got that opportunity. I was definitely reminded this weekend I am extremely blessed.

Who is the most surprising celeb you have met? Were you at the game?

November Football Fun!

This month is turning out to be extremely exciting (in certain aspects) because a certain person (ME!) gets to watch not one but two teams I absolutely LOVE within days....

I wish I could make this post more "professional" - if there is such a thing for blogs but I simply cannot contain my excitement.

While it is Liverpool Legends which means my Stevie Gerrard won't be in the team I still get to watch Liverpool in my own country and some of the greatest players will be there and I cannot wait. I am also really looking forward to being around people who share my passion for Liverpool. AND my dad bought awesome tickets!!!

A Young John Barnes

Then on Tuesday, I get to watch Spain verse my country and while a lot of people are saying that Bafana Bafana will be whipped, on the two previous occasions in which Bafana played Spain we played really well. Perhaps it's that saying that applies : When you socialise with more intelligent people you will think on their level. Maybe when Bafana plays Spain they realise they are playing the greatest team currently out there and they want to ensure that that they look good doing it?

Either way, as you should know, I LOVE Fernando Torres but turns out he's not coming as he is injured :( I literally had to take a moment to process that when I found out. I love that man and I'm sad he's not coming but as it turns out, there will be some new talent coming along. Also, Gerard Pique, Xavi and Jordi Alba won't be making it which makes me sad BUT Pepe Reina will be coming as will Xabi Alonso and David Villa and how could I forget Cesc Fabregas?

And when I thought I had good tickets for Liverpool Legends vs Kaizer Chiefs.. my dad did better (2 rows better) for the Spain game.

I am so thrilled that I get to visit the Moses Mabida Stadium for a game, which I haven't done before and then I get to go back to the FNB Stadium, to watch the champions of the world!

So.. I will do game reviews next week with loads of photos I'm sure! I'll also be positng on Instagram and Twitter!

What is going on with you that makes you as excited as me? Have you seen any of these teams play? Who will you be supporting?

Have a great weekend and enjoy some good football!!

Football Friday :Miguel Ángel Britos Cabrera

After the whole Blogtember challenge, I must be honest I am feeling really tired and I have been so busy in my day to day life that I haven't been able to blog much.

Today will be quick, I am not sure if I should continue with Football Friday or if I should switch to another day reserved for some good old eye candy. So tell me what you think I should do?

Today is all about an Uruguayan footballer who plays for Napoli FC, which means he lives in Italy (lucky him).   I actually became aware of him from a picture that Pepe Reina posted on his facebook page.

Therefore I cannot tell you much about his ability but I will be sure to watch the next Napoli game and see if he looks better on TV or in pictures!

 

 

In the News:

1. Aresenal appears to be doing well this season, then again, they always start off well but I am unconvinced that they will be able to keep up at this level unless Ozil really is something magical...?

2. It appears that despite the rumours, Qatar will still host the 2018 World Cup.

3. Man United are playing badly and everyone is playing the blame game.

 

and

 

Liverpool FC have released their new team photo

Don't you think he looks similar to Nacer Chali?

 

Blogtember : Monday, 16 September 2013, A Public Love Letter

Blogtember Challenge

Dear Liverpool Football Club

How do I put into words what being a supporter of this team means to me?

I remember always being aware of LFC because my dad was a supporter and if I had to pick I would LFC but then the night before my first University exam, Introduction to Constitutional Law, and Istanbul happened.

 

I was hooked. I remember watching the team defend like crazy and then win on penalties. It was magical even all the way from South Africa.

 

However supporting LFC didn't mean I was in for an easy ride, you are a team which makes supporting you a challenge. In the past, we have been inconsistent, we have been great at playing but bad at scoring... we have been playing badly and then scoring.

 

We have the most intense football rivalries... it may have just been Man United and Everton, once upon a time but now... after Fernando Torres... Jose Mourinho... Chelsea is most definitely up there with teams we love to hate.

 

When planning my first trip overseas, I made sure to include time in Liverpool, and the day I spent in the museum and at Anfield, was easily one of my top 5 best days of my life. The aura as I stood in front of the gates was at times, overwhelming and simultaneously comforting.

 

 

When Fernando Torres left, I stayed up all night waiting to see if he would betray the fans or not and when it was official... I cried myself to sleep and it broke my heart to hear Stevie's hurt

 

 

 

His betrayal only pushed me further into my love for Steven Gerrard. Our captain fantastic, brings so much joys that he deserves his own public love letter but that will be another day.

 

 

On game days, I feel anxious the whole day, I try to wear red and keep positive thoughts... I add LFC to my prayer list because, you are my team but more than that, you are my family!

 

 

Our song... is the most beautifully suited song for our relationship.. because I know that no matter what happens, I will never walk alone.

 



It's unexplainable to describe the bond I have to you but over the years I have come to peace with the fact that those who have experienced, understand it deeper than words could explain.

Love always.....

Natalie