Introduction

Welcome to my first blog post! You might find it a bit unusual for an English Language and Literature student to write about football, but here I am. While my major doesn’t quite align with this topic, my love for football has been a lifelong passion. As a child, I even dreamed of becoming a professional footballer. This blog is my way of revisiting that dream and expressing my thoughts on the sport. Expect to see posts about football clubs, national teams, the transfer market, and even recommendations for players in Football Manager.


Let me kick off this journey by sharing what made me fall in love with football. Some might wonder how a sport involving twenty two players chasing a ball can evoke so much emotion. I wasn’t always sure myself. It all began in 2008, with a match between Persib Bandung and Persiba Balikpapan. That was when I first saw Cristian Gonzales incredible play, and I instantly became a fan. 


Back then, it seemed like everyone around me—friends, neighbors—was buzzing about the Indonesian football league. This deepened my interest, and I would eagerly watch football news on TV before school, excited to discuss it with my friends, even tough with the simple-mindedness of a child.


What is even strange is that I grew up in Kota Batu, part of the Malang Regency, where Arema Malang is the local pride. Yet, I found myself become a supporter for Persib Bandung, all because of my admiration for Gonzales. Supporting Persib in a city where everyone cheered for Arema felt like being a lone voice in a crowd of lions. But I didn’t mind because Persib was performing incredibly well that season.


It gets even more unusual—imagine a kid from Batu, who’s never left his hometown, becoming a fan of Persisam Samarinda, a team based in East Kalimantan. How? Of course, it was because Gonzales moved there. Suddenly, I went from being surrounded by lions to becoming a dolphin in Mahakam River of Borneo!


At the time, I wasn’t fond of Arema, especially because of one of their chants that used harsh language. Yet, a friend once asked me, "What if Gonzales joined Arema?" I confidently replied, "I’d probably stop supporting any team and quit watching football altogether."


But life has a funny way of surprising you. In 2013, Gonzales did move to Arema Cronus, and despite my initial reluctance, I found myself drawn to the team. My dislike for Arema faded, especially after their big win against Pusamania Borneo FC with a 5-0 victory in the 2017 Piala Presiden final. From that moment, I became an Arema supporter, enjoying matches and exchanging football insights with my friends.


So, that’s a bit about how I got into football. I’m excited to share more of my thoughts with you in future posts—especially the discussion on the Indonesian national team, European clubs, transfer deals, and so on. Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you enjoy my journey!

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