Golden Boot Princess

Over the past 20 years, she was compared to the likes of Mia Hamm and Marta. She was also called Canada’s “Next Christine Sinclair”. But after tonight’s ceremony, she’ll simply be known as the “Golden Boot Princess”. She humbly stepped up to the podium while the rest of her team cheered her on; the presenters handed over the “Golden Boot” and stepped away; the floor was hers.

While tears ran down her cheeks, she thanked all those that supported her over the years: Her teammates and coaches at the Semiahmoo Soccer Club (where she started her football career), her teammates and coaches at the Surrey United Soccer Club, her friends and family, UCLA for the scholarship that allowed her to focus on football without any financial worries, the Vancouver Whitecaps FC Women’s team for drafting her, which allowed her to return to her hometown, and the Canadian Soccer Association for allowing her to compete for her country alongside Canada’s best footballers.

She then thanked her mom for being her guiding beacon and her brother for attending every game since day one and adoring her for always (the crowd breaks into a heartfelt laughter while the camera zooms on the brother).

She then thanked the “Super Fan”, her dad, for being there in the heat and the cold, standing on the sidelines and cheering her on; for allowing her to kick the “foamy ball” around the house without any concern over what may break; for teaching her to feel-and-kick with “internal senses”; for teaching her how important her teammates are; for buying her a pair of “Nike” cleats when he was madly in love with “Adidas”, knowing well that this was her game and not his; for posting updates about the game on Facebook and Twitter; but mainly, for simply standing there on the sidelines and giving her the “thumps-up” or the “hang-loose” hand gestures when she played well.

She then graciously stepped away from the podium while holding up the trophy with one hand and blowing a loving kiss towards her family with the other.

After the ceremonies, the cameras chased after her 60 year-old father and asked for a comment or two. Proudly, he stood tall and said, “I knew she was a special player when, at the age of 5, her kick was so hard that it moved the “unsecured” goal post by an inch. I couldn’t be any more proud of my daughter. I thank God every day for giving her the brains and the strength to be who she is today. I hope she’ll continue to be the positive role model that most kids need nowadays.”

The reporter signed off by saying “perhaps future young female players are going to be called the ‘Next Isabella’ while Canada enjoys having her on the roster for many more years to come”.

A father can dream, can’t he?

Thanks for reading,

Armin

PS. I knew we were on the right track with Isabella’s football career when my uncle, a former footballer who now resides in Denmark, made comments about Isabella’s remarkable focus and commitment while chasing the ball around the field. Thanks Daii Essi for your kind words and encouragement… it meant the world to me.

Come on ref!!! What kind of a call was that?