The miracle in Estadio NUML: A tale of how the invincibles bowed out

The miracle in Estadio NUML: A tale of how the invincibles bowed out

As I saw Sajjad Haider’s soft penalty kick saved by the opponent’s goalkeeper, images of past victories flashed infront of me. This was the BSML team that had not lost a single game in three years and had literally breezed past every team and every test
they were put through.

An ever-solid and resolute defence was further aided by an attacking unit whose great passing moves and technical superiority left the audience awed and inspired. It all started three years ago when the BSML side took on BBA in NUML’s interdepartmental football
tournament.

The game was a goal-fest as the BSML side beat the helpless BBA side 7-0 in a game that simply displayed the sheer brilliance of a youthful and exhuberant BSML side whose tactical astuteness can never be doubted.

On 25^th November, it all changed as BSML lost their first ever game in three years. Sadly, this was going to be the last time I ever played for BSML and bowing out in this fashion really hurt.

I would be a good sportsman and congratulate the opponents for ending our glorious run of wins and eventually lifting the trophy by defeating Telecom 2-0 in the final.

However, the semifinal was certainly one of the games of the tournament. Before we played the semi, we were involved in a gruelling encounter with the Gilgit/Baltistan team. That game was probably the toughest game I ever played in NUML and our team was
stretched to the limit by guys whose sole purpose in the game was trying to hurt our players as much as possible.

The semi-final turned out to be more of the same for us. Our team is well-known for their skill and passing ability which many people will agree even if they won’t admit in front of us. The opponents made sure that we don’t play our game.

Knowing that keeping the ball on the ground and playing football the way it should be played won’t work these guys adapted to such tactics that even former Bolton manager Sam Allardyce would be proud of.

Hack-it-away as far as possible was the order of the day as we looked in shock at the tactics the opponents had adopted in order to save themselves from a defeat.

Unluckily I hit the post from long range and the opponent’s goalkeeper Saddam drew a fine save from our Turkish striker Omar (who scored six goals in the tournament).

Contentious decisions are part of officiating  games and today was no different. For some apparent reason, the linesman (who was actually a referee for one half) ruled out Omar offside when he was miles away from the last defender and had accurately checked
his run.

Ifs and buts DO play a major role in the outcome of games of these proportions as had the whistle not been blown, we would have taken a lead and would have gone on to lift the trophy – Butterfly Effect.

Penalties came and in the second kick, our friend from Saudi Arabia, Mohammed, hit the post and according to the referee, the ball had not crossed the line. Oblivious to the fact that so many people saw the ball crossing the line, the assistant ref said
that it did not cross the line.

To make things even more worse, that ref later admitted that the ball HAD crossed the line and he was just “under a lot of pressure” to give the right decision. Hats off to the ref who later on played the semi-final for his team comforted by the fact that
he will not be facing the team he had feared for two years in the final.

Being dumped out of the semis hurts but after winning four titles in a row, me and the rest of the BSML players are proud of our team that is certainly the undisputed and trophy-laden team in the history of NUML sports.

Short URL: https://www.newspakistan.pk/?p=4735

Posted by Taimoor Tariq on Nov 25 2011. Filed under Sports. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry