Soccer Isn't What It Is Anymore

I remember when I was young, me and my brother would eagerly wait for Saturday to catch soccer action. Then, we need not have to pay any rubbish subscription fee because it would be screened on free-to-view channel. Those were the days where soccer matches were easily accessible. Matches played then were fantastic with teams all fighting to hit top spot. Players with beautiful skills gracefully embrace this beautiful game.

However, in my opinion, this beautiful game isn't that beautiful anymore. Long gone were the days where players play for the passion. Never mind the football in Singapore (i don't fancy watching them play even for a single time, except during the Fandi Ahmad and Steven Lim times). It's English Premier League that all eyes are set. Said to be the best and most watched league in the world, players who managed to play at the top flight has great prospects.

Today, we see money in nearly every faces of the players. Eh wait, not only the players, but also the manages, coaches, directors and even agents. Money has indeed ugly-fied this beautiful game.

For example, Qatar to host World Cup in 2022. How ridiculous can that be. Imagine playing at a middle east country under 50 degree celcius heat. Yes, you may install cooling facilities in the stadium, but how about during training? How about for the fans outside the stadiums? Seriously, it's all about money. Even comments after the result of the hosting of 2022 World Cup smells nasty. Corruption, dirty, ugly faces all were mentioned.

We see how footballers like Ronaldo, Ronaldino etc were neglected even though they won World Best Footballers years ago. Fame means nothing in this so called beautiful game today. Fortune does. Fortune rules. We see how Chelsea managed to get trohpies after being taken over by Billionaire. After spending and banking hefty sum of players, they started to perform. Many called this 'buying trophies'. Indeed, it's true to some extent. Doesn't that mean those club who's poor was be made to relegate?

We see wonderful legends and players like Ryan Giggs still making appearance for Manchester United. He once divulge, it's an ugly world in soccer because everything is playing soccer for money. Whoever pays you more, you move over. No one can nowadays hold themselves like Ryan Giggs. That in turn gave rise to whom we call traitors of the club. No one can forget how Rooney was boo-ed the first time he play against his old club, Everton. No one will forget how Owen was jeered when he scored against Liverpool. Now let's look at Torress, at dying minutes of the January transfer market, he turned from Red to Blue. Immeditately the news was released, Kops supporters burnt his jersey and termed him a traitor, for all a whopping 50 million, making him a record paid player in English football.

One word, disgrace. Beautiful game has indeed been tarnished. No wonder my passion of the English game is fading.....