Lessons From Argentina: You Can Still Get A Goal!

It was a rainy morning in the capital. I heard people scream goa-l so I decided to find out who was playing football in the rain. I remembered then that, there  was a tournament ongoing in New Zealand.

The Black Satellites of Ghana were playing against Argentina in the group stages of the under twenty world cup.   I watched as Ghana put themselves in, what I thought was a comfortable lead; three goals up in the second half.

I won't say I was expecting the scoreline to change but, I have come to learn in football, that a minute can change the outcome of the game. Though I was  supporting my country and was hoping it would be a win for us, I still knew things could change.

I like the attitude displayed by our opponents. Three goals down did not seem to deter them. Unlike some people, losing out a few times means it is never going to be a win. I was pissed off because as always, the Black Satellites learning from their big  brothers, allowed complacency to set in. Letting their opponents score two goals in a matter of minutes. Most of the time, as human beings, we become too comfortable with our situations.

You are a basic school teacher, doing well at your profession.  Your take home pay is just okay to sustain you, so ten years after becoming a teacher, you do not take on any challenge.  Yet, you could challenge yourself to become a Senior High School teacher by upgrading yourself. Once you are comfortable with your situation, you will never dare to take on a new challenge.  Don't limit yourself! Argentina had their eyes set on the next stages of the tournament so when they were down, even with just a few minutes left to the end, they could not give up till the final whistle.

At other times, it is not because we are comfortable but because we dare to determine or predict the end of the game even before the final whistle. If Argentina had thought Ghana would win no matter what, they would never have forged ahead to get two goals.

You  were a single woman who always prayed to God for a husband.  He finally gave you one and all you do now is, you have stopped dressing up and looking good. Stopped praying and  cooking because finally your name has changed. You have already predicted the end, though it is a union for life. What happened to all that you did in the past to get the man attracted to you? Why have you changed just because your name has changed? Your name has changed but it is not the end. The  Argentines were three goals down in the game. Yet for them, it was only the beginning of the dream not the end because, they had not yet heard the final whistle marking the end of full time.

'I can't do it' and  'You can't do it' are phrases used by some people  even before full  time. What makes you think you can't do it? We are in the sixth month of the year.  You set  targets  for yourself early on in the year but till now, nothing has gone right.You are thinking it won't work. Perhaps because someone has told you, you cannot do it or because you are telling yourself, you can't do it. Has it occurred to you that,  it is not over yet? It is only half-time and in half- time, anything can happen.  A minute can determine how the story ends.

You can do it if you want to. You can get there. It's not over. It is only half-time, get to work. Stop being complacent. Stop writing yourself off. Do not allow people to beat you down with their  words. You are not a loser. You are still in the game if you have life. You can still try to do it: focus in concentration. It's only Half-time not full time. You can still get a goal. Go get it!