Dear Kids,

I realized recently that I feel guilt and shame about what I like to do with my free time. Soccer is long and not always exciting. Wrestling often doesn’t reflect my values. Writing, reading, studying languages, solving crosswords, and running are all great for me personally, but they’re utterly inconsequential to helping others or building a better world.

In that light, you might wonder why I keep doing this project. Why not stick to things that matter?

Because, the things we love matter too.

Conveniently, after reading a pair of Italian Nobel Laureates this year, I found the original (reputed) source of a widely used quote in Italian manager Arrigo Sacchi

“Football is the most important of the least important things.”

Right now there are many “IMPORTANT” things happening. War, injustice, corruption, dehumanization. The guilty part of me feels like maybe: I should teach about those issues; take you to protests in the streets; get you writing your congress people now in the hope of stemming the tide of cruelty in the future. I think I should not just talk about sports ball.

And yet…This is where I am, and this is where I stay. I will not be moved.

In part because proponents of war, injustice, corruption, and dehumanization try to pass off their contempt for others with the misdirection of organized sports events (see World Cup 2018, 2022, 2026) and calling that out rebuffs their slight of hand and reclaims our joy. In part because savoring the joy of human life helps to anchor why we fight for it.

And perhaps most of all, because in the midst of all the madness, I got to take you both to matches this month. I got to share snacks, and jokes, and laughs, and dances with you. And those are the most important things…so, football might not matter, but what it connects us to, definitely does.

Results & Notable Players

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Rosenborg, Punjab, Minnesota, and Emelec all started their seasons in earnest this month. Of those sides only Punjab really seems to be ready, and given the long layoff before the season started in India, that makes sense. While longstanding talisman Lucka Macjen left the team during its interminable offseason, Nikhil Prabhu is ready to step up…or was until his injury. But defenders Khaminthang Lhungdim and Bijoy Verghese both have stepped up wonderfully to help the team (and in Verghese’s case himself en route to a national team cap). Plus defensive midfielder Samir Zeljkovic has already chipped in plenty of offense with an assist and goal.

Meanwhile both Emelec and Rosenborg have balanced fine debuts for their women with rougher goes for the menfolk. Irene Dirdal and Marie Kristine Vik combined well in the first match, and Beate Marcussen looked to provide a fulcrum in the second but the team wasn’t able to shut down opponents chances. At the same time that inconsistency would be welcome for the men who (after falling to Molde, Valerenga and getting dumped from the League Cup) has been consistently awkward.

In Ecuador, Los Bombillos have had better luck but also seem dependent on Miler Bolanos and Romario Caicedo caputring the old magic to mixed effect. Meanwhile the women are looking to be putting together a campaign as professional as their ptich as they stand solidly in the middle of the table after beating teams they should (and struggling against top sides)

Punjab

W 2 – D 2 – L ; GF: 7 / GA: 2

Emelec

Masculinos: W 1 – D 1 – L 2; GF 3/GA: 5

Femininas: W 2 – D 0 – L 2; GF 4/GA: 7

Rosenborg

Menner: W 0 – D 0 – L 3; GF: 2/GA: 8

Kvinner W 0 – D 2 – L 0; GF 2/GA: 2

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Finally amongst the newbies, it behooves us to take a little time to talk about the team that we’re closest to. But the clearest lesson is that the Loons have definitely missed Dayne St. Clair. The goalie of the year’s departure for Miami and Messi makes logical sense, but its also put extra pressure on the defense to figure out how to organize themselves while new keeper Drake Callendar gets to know them and Michael Boxall works back from an injury. Anthony Markanich still looks like a dynamic and undervalued full back, but the actual offense hasn’t done much to fire up their engines or the crowd as we all shiver in a Minnesota spring.

Minnesota

Loons: W 1 – D 1 – L 2 ; GF: 2/ GA: 9

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Among the teams that already had matches to their credits, it was a rough showing for both Grenoble and Freiburg who simply could not find any consistent form. The Frenchmen have been winless since the end of January, and the women might be in real trouble if it weren’t for three straight second half equalizers (including two straight stoppage time savers from Laurine Baga and Graziella Mazza.

Freiburg’s struggles came on opposite ends of the field. The women could not get the attack into gear, finding the net once in their first two matches. To be fair, they do have a young attack with the front four in both matches fielding nobody younger than 24. While the men’s defensive inconsistency, putting a lot of pressure on Noah Atubolu. Fortunately Igor Matanovic did put together a good attack to help them get another win in the league.

Grenoble:

Hommes: W – D 2 – L 2 ; GF: 2 / GA: 4

Femmes: W 0 – D 3- L 0 ; GF: 3 / GA: 3

Freiburg

Herren: W 2 – D 1 – L 3 ; GF: 10/ GA: 10

Frauen: W 0 – D 0 – L 2 ; GF: 1/ GA: 4

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For the rest of the sides there was a similar ebb and flow to the month. With several great showings and some disappointments.

Alebrijes has long struggled with their offense, but seem to have a strong squad to show up this year with Jose Franco netting two in a win, 19 year old Jesus Bustos with two in a loss, Hecor Mascorro and Fernando Morales again in match where they get the lead before needing a late winner from Bubakarry Fadika. Meanwhile Vozdovac put their focus on the defense with defender Nikola Jankovic in the right back spot has been the most consistent contributor to the Dragons defense. Finally the Staggies continue to just barely avoid the bottom of the table after a couple of collapses, but the women’s side clicked in a big way with 15 goals unanswered (7 of which belonged to Rhea Hassock).

Sadly, we should also mention both Legon Cities sides who had plenty of disappointments and not a lot of great showings with one point from 7 matches. The Royals gave up 9 in a row to the same component over two matches, and only Eden Kofi Asamoah’s two second half goals against against Samartex saved it from being a month long shutout for both teams.

Alebrijes

W 2 – D 1 – L 2 ; GF: 10 / GA: 16

Vozdovac

W 2 – D 1 – L 2; GF: 4/ GA: 3

Ross County

Lads: W 1 – D 2 – L 3; GF: 5 / GA: 9

Lasses: W 3 – D 1 – L 0; GF: 17/ GA: 1

Legon Cities:

Premier Team: W 0 – D 1 – L 3 ; GF: 2 / GA: 8

Divison 1 Team: W 0 – D 0 – L 3 ; GF: 0 / GA: 12

Looking Ahead

April will feature two big splits as teams in Scotland and Serbia fight against the other sides in line for promotion or relegation (as the case may be). Right now County is in real trouble, while Vozdovac is in the thick of their scrap as well. Meanwhile it’s all over but the crying for both Legon clubs as more relegation awaits….but maybe they’ll just buy another team to make it three?

At the same time the World Cup will kick into the next gear as the final six teams book their spots in the group stages (assuming, as named above, more ridiculous political theater doesn’t derail it further). I’d love to say Vincenzo Grifo could finally get some international acclaim, but as he’s 32 and hasn’t played with the national team in 3 years, it’s sad to say that he’s probably past it at this point (which just means more for us!)

Standings

I think it’s worth noting that Punjab went from last to first this month, while two time cup winner Rosenborg is bringing up the rear (even including the mess at Legon Cities)

Team	W	D	L	PPG	GFA	GAA
Punjab	2	2	1	1.60	1.40	0.60
Grenoble	6	8	6	1.30	0.95	1.25
Vozdovac	2	3	2	1.29	0.57	0.43
Emelec	3	1	4	1.25	0.88	1.50
Freiburg	9	4	12	1.24	1.04	1.44
Ross County	7	5	11	1.13	1.09	1.13
Alebrijes	3	4	5	1.08	1.33	2.00
Minnesota	1	2	2	1.00	0.80	2.20
Legon Cities	3	1	17	0.48	0.86	2.71
Rosenborg	0	2	3	0.40	0.80	2.00
Montana–b	0	0	0	—	—	—