{ Futsal Noob }

One of my favourite pastimes is kicking my football around wif a buddy of mine.

We’d go to a court or a field, pass the ball around, sometimes long, sometimes short, and sometimes some tricks and a couple one-twos for the lols. All while chatting and catching up wif each others’ lives. Very casual, like meeting up for a drink, except since we’re not rlly into dat, we’re playing ball instead.

The other day we were doing just dat, at an open court. When all of a sudden a group of young boys came and wanted to join and play. They looked no older than 12, so we tot sure yea, why not.

So things got competitive between the boys. While us two, being the grown ups, had to settle for being the goalkeepers, while the little ones enjoyed.

While I was standing there at my goalpost, daydreaming (as the opposing team wasn’t rlly bringing the play to our half). I started wondering when the last time I played futsal was. I wondered why it’s been so long, since I was having quite a pretty good time there.

Then I remembered.

Couple months (or probably years by now) ago, my friend invited me to play a game wif him, tgt wif a bunch of other dudes, through an app called Stranger Soccer (a futsal/football game meet-up app)

Honestly I wasn’t rlly looking forward to it. From my previous experiences playing casually, I knew dat futsal is rlly technically and physically demanding, much more difficult than football, and actly more alike to basketball (which I’m pretty terrible at).

But I tot u noe wat screw it, let’s just see wat happens, ye. Maybe it’ll be fun.

So I met up wif him, and then the other fellow gentlemen, all clad in our various football jerseys, ready to pretend it’s the Champions League final, or something along those lines.

The game starts, wif the ball being passed around the back, and then the eventually to me. Ah, dats when the disaster started, where my lack of experience and composure showcased magnificently.

I couldn’t dribble. I couldn’t pass straight. I couldn’t even mark my man. I was all over the place. It was as though someone tied my shoes together, and I was hobbling around like a headless chicken.

Absolutely terrible games I was having. Got me feeling pretty demoralised. So I sat out the next couple of games.

But I didn’t quit. I wanted to try again. Gotta redeem myself, u noe?

So I came back after a while, somewhat rejuvenated, ready to try again.

Dis time however, I mainly stayed way out in front, near the post. Dat decision turned out to be quite beneficial.

Somehow I was very clinical in shooting. I cld do tap ins, and shots from range, both unusually accurately dat day. Doing so, I managed to bag a couple of goals. So eh, at least I started doing something right.

But see the thing is when ur shit, nobody rlly wants to celebrate wif u when u score. Maybe they feel its sort of expected from u. Like a form of compensation, after how terrible you’ve been prior to dat.

So, dat sort of removed any fun from scoring. Instead of celebrating, I felt more like I had to quickly pick up the ball from the net and restart play. Like when a losing team is trying to catch up, u noe.

Then after a few hours, our session was done. Idk wat the scorelines were, or if anyone was even keeping track. Everyone had already left. There were no goodbyes.

So I left forever, never to return for futsal meetups on dat app.

I did not have fun dat day, despite feeling like prime Cristiano Ronaldo bagging in goals. Becos goals are meant to be celebrated wif others. No, in fact, effort alone shld be celebrated. Dats wat teammates shld be there for, actively trying their best to do.

Snapping back to reality, I see one of the boys from my team on the wing, having no one to cross the ball to, seemingly hesitant.

Instinctively, I ran up and became the striker in the middle, ready to pounce. He crossed it to me, and I headed it in.

Very shyly he celebrated with a cute little punch in the air ✊. Everyone else also seemingly joyful of taking the lead in the game.

So I did wat I had to do. I went and celebrated wif him, and then everyone else, with a cool “big bro” high five, as if to say “yo, dats pretty cool for a lil man”. Dat seemed to raise everyone’s spirits by quite a bit.

Afterwards, everyone started to loosen up as the game went on. More vocal, more proactive, and brave to try out skills and tricks. My fav part is dat everyone started encouraging each other wif the occasional “oooh wat a touch!” and “wah, good goal!”. And the high fives, ofc.

Eventually, the game ends and we ended up destroying the other team, which I feel a lil bad for 🥴.

But u noe, can’t rlly stop the power of friendship once it gets going. Dats just how it is…

Lots of people see dis as the most important part in games:

But don’t realise dat dis part is equally as important:

19.09.2025