During Greece vs Nigeria a Greek player was intentionally kicked in the thigh. The Nigerian player received a red card and left the game. Australian hard man Tim Cahill was reduced to tears by his dismissal in the 4-0 loss to Germany in their World Cup opener on Sunday... Tempers flared among fans and players alike when goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune received a red card and was sent off the pitch for tackling a Uruguayan striker near the end of the game, leaving the squad short of one man.

At stake, the glory on the 11th July and... huge amounts of money! Yet, both are temporary rewards that will eventually fade away.

There are lots of similarities between the World Cup and our own race towards Heaven. But the one huge difference is that the reward we are seeking has nothing temporary. It is not less than a share in the “eternal glory” of God!

Our field is the world, “Go into the whole world...” is the motto of our coach Jesus, fight the opponent, he says, for they are godless and want you also to quit the race and become godless. Pay particular attention to nr 3 – Johnny Walker – who will stop all your attempts to score, mid-fielder Alex Consumer whose passes to striker Gold Van Geld are so precise that a goal against your side is almost inevitable.

The referee is a model of integrity. Beware of the yellow cards that should play on your conscience. They are only warnings, but please take them seriously for a red card will mean you are out of the race... It will often become manifest in times of crisis, scary sickness, loss of a dear one, unexpected retrenchment from work... Yet, if you get one, take heart and repent. The referee is, fortunately, full of compassion and will definitely always reconsider his decision as long as you reconsider your behaviour.

Our goal keepers must be well trained, both during the official times of training and during their daily life. Their qualities should be temperance, prayer life, boldness and steadfastness. They will be carefully selected as parents, educators, catechists, lay leaders, clergy.

The supporters are not playing a lesser role. Their vuvuzelas should not produce a low B Flat sound. Rather they should blow sounds of encouragements, songs of praise and thanksgiving. They should get involved as much as they can to ensure the success of their team. Hooligans should be dealt with strongly, “Talk to them with love, take them to the elders, and – if no result – let them leave the community”, recommends our coach.

Success will only be possible with a strong team spirit. Everyone has a role to play, from the goal keeper to the striker to the supporters. Our coach often speak of the members of the body, which all have a role to play to bring the whole body to harmony and effectiveness. When one or the other member is not playing its role, the body becomes dysfunctional. Work hard at building up your community. Be gentle - but bold - with each other. There is no competition amongst us, rather oneness in our differences with only one goal: to defeat the enemy.

St. Thomas, Ayoba! Ke nako!

Fr. Philippe (reserve goal keeper)