Angolan Short Stories: The Match
The Match
It's Sunday, and the tide has just gone out. As it receded almost silently, as if it wanted to go unnoticed, the sea left behind a wide tongue of wet sand that now mingles with the gentle waves licking the bay. It's a perfect soccer pitch, an irresistible invitation to a game.
The teams have been formed for a long time; it's as if they're playing another round of matches in an endless championship. One side of the field is occupied by the fishermen's team, and the other by those who work in the rusty wreckage of sunken ships, salvaging iron to sell. They all live in the nearby village, where they know each other, and they all make a living from the sea.
Today, however, the sea is merely a spectator, silently and distantly watching a game between those who challenge it daily. Maybe it's gauging the strength of the men it will face tomorrow in the next challenge. Or perhaps it's just a welcome respite from a tough day.
Two sticks stuck in the sand, spaced two meters apart, mark the goals. It isn't easy to score goals, which makes winning more challenging and appealing. There are only field boundaries on the sides of the goals, providing just enough for offside and corners. The rest of the field is bordered by the sea and the plants that grow on the beach. No one dares to cross these limits.
Possession of the ball is fiercely contested, as if each pass were crucial to the game's outcome. Despite the elaborate gymnastics and effort put into each move, few fouls are committed, and no one gets hurt. They are accustomed to hard work and injuries, so the more violent outbursts during the game are permitted and overlooked.
After more than an hour of relentless pursuit of the ball and attempts to reach the opponents' goal, the match's only goal was scored. The Iron Workers won the game, and their joy is contagious. There's only one way to celebrate! Everyone dives into the sea, and the player who scored is lifted.
They take immense risks every day in the sea, where they tear chunks out of the flesh of sunken giants. Now, they celebrate their victory in the soccer match on that same stage, as if to show the sea that they can also beat sand giants.
