Two reasons why you cannot predict football

By: Luka | August 21st, 2009

I just love reading those feel-good, rags to riches and coming of age stories (well, not really, but still, it makes for a good opening to this blog) where the person in question finds themselves in a situation totally inconceivable and incomparable to their very recent past. Well, here are two of those stories, unsurprisingly sharing one common theme – AssyriskaFF (other than the theme of it being a rags to riches story, obviously).

Exhibit A – From Porto to Lyon via Milan’s evil dentist
You might remember a certain Aly Cissokho from such botched medicals as Silvio & Adriano’s “teethgate” affair. I think everyone is aware of the hilarious details surrounding this non-transfer debacle. Now, we also know that Aly went on to (arguably) bigger and better things by making a big money move to former Ligue 1 title winners Lyon, and will now be a regular in the bright lights of the Champions League (unless Anderlecht does the unthinkable). What we also know, is that Aly was plying his trade for the very humble Vitória Setúbal no more than 12 months ago.

What is remarkable, and most likely unbeknown to even the most savvy European football follower, is that before he signed for Vitória Setúbal (and a mere 6 months before signing for Porto) he was about to be loaned to a certain club in Sodretalje, while still contracted with French second division side Gueugnon! According to Assyriska’s president at that time (Sargon De Basso, who is now the vice-president), the deal only fell through as the club could not strike an agreement over his wage. Amazing, huh? Instead of walking out for France’s most successful side since Saint Etienne in 80s, or for the team with the most stringent dental policy in the world, AC Milan (who I am told are also pretty good), Aly could have been representing the national team of a people without a nation and facing such sides as Qviding FIF, Assyriska’s next opponent (mentioned here as I probably won’t end up writing a preview).

Exhibit B – From Assyriska to Inter
….via some irrelevant clubs along the way.

A slightly less poignant story as our good friend Aly’s, however one just as interesting. Four years ago, current Inter Milan assistant coach (adding ‘to Jose Mourinho‘ to emphasise the glamour of the role) Jose Morais could be found on the training paddocks of a certain team just outside Stockholm, attempting to salvage what was an historic (but ultimately disappointing) debut season in the highest division in Sweden – the Allsvenskan. He could also be found giving his thoughts on the documentary ‘Landslag utan land’ (the national team without a nation) which was filmed in 2005 and won the 2006 “Golden Palm Award’ at the Beverly Hills Film festival, describing the unique feeling of leading out Europe’s first team founded by immigrants to reach a premier league.

Now, he gets to lay out the cones on the training paddock for this chap.