I think that the nicest word in the ‘beautiful game’, as Pele’ affectionately called it, is the word ‘Goal’. 

In a way football can be seen as a bit of a microcosm of life.  These issues were brought to life during an interview I had with Fr Hilary Tagliaferro on my radio show Ghandi xi Nghid.  This 82 year old ‘young man’, who still leads an active lifestyle, never misses a dip at Dragonara point, is engaged in pastoral care and keeps coming up with new projects at the Millennium Chapel - in fact, now it’s the meditation garden. 

Life can be embodied by this value, ‘goal’.

I think that football teaches us a lesson or two.  Let’s be honest, life is full of targets and purpose, packed with moments when you think you’ve achieved an objective and in a tick it flags up an ‘offside’. 

There are instances when you are happy and feel that your game plan is working to perfection and in a jiffy it all changes as you feel you are being let down possibly by the same people who wear those same colours, individuals you would have thought shared comparable life expectations. 

There are flashes when people cheer you for your achievements and that quickly changes when you feel abandoned and left to your own devices, even though you are trying to give your utmost. 

Life in all truth can be the simplest of games, easy to watch, effortless to understand, but it can also get terribly complicated if you concede a goal when you least expect it.  Not only that, there are split second situations when it all looks plain sailing and all of a sudden, out of the blue, you get tackled and you find yourself knocked out. 

The ‘beautiful game’ is indeed a lovely metaphor of life, isn’t it? 

Fr Hilary in just under an hour shares a colossal elucidation to existence I know of no other who has managed to make football the foundation of such a narrative.

But my interview with Fr Hilary made me muse over.

I must admit that football has always featured closely in my life not only because I enjoy watching it and I am intrigued how tactics and the right choice of players can make a difference, but because football is embedded in my family vibes. 

My grandfather (from my mum’s side), affectionately known as Nannu Manuel (Calleja), was President of Valletta FC.  He passed away at a relatively young age, unfortunately before I was even born.  I’ve heard so many people say that he was a kind and temperate gentleman.  He died right after watching a game of football (what he liked doing best) at the Gzira Stadium.  Some connect his death to the fervor and excitement that every game produced in him.  For those who might not be cognizant, my grandfather developed the notion of substitutions, later on adopted across the international football scene.  The same as in life, he wanted that a team is given all the opportunities to see through its game plan.  He was a great advocate of fairness and believed that in life if someone falls and hurts, there should be one or other to lift him up and continue the mission.   

My other grandfather, warmly known as Nannu Mike (Azzopardi), from my dad’s side was also an ardent and talented player and was best at his trade with Valletta FC.  Kelinu as he was known played as a center back and was known to be of aptitude.  At 77 years, my father still talks about his dad as if he was still around.  I think he admired him because Nannu Mike gave his utmost in whatever he was involved in life, a value he implanted in all those around him.  My grandfather was driven by the love of his family and football was a way of showing it. 

My brother Stephen is also well known in the football arena.  I know of no other who believes so much in fair play.  I once remember being on the terraces watching him Coach my dearly loved Birkirkara FC.  They were giving a drubbing to a team I can’t remember the name of, and he asked that his players go easy on their opponents.  He has an array of awards that call out to him but is best known for being one of the most highly qualified coaches in Malta and in fact was the first to get the UEFA-Pro Coaching License in Malta.  His drive, passion, principled approach - for sure know their roots in the game.   

Chris a cousin from my mother’s side, whom I consider to be one of the closest, was always there to flank the family with his spirit.  He also made a name for himself and played with Valletta FC as a goalkeeper. He was considered a talent in his own right, once again righteous and devoted, qualities that he found amply available when life gave him a couple of hard-hitting challenges. 

But as always, you leave the best for the end. 

My Uncle Tony (Calleja) was also an excellent player, once again with Valletta FC.  He passed away some years ago - greatly missed.  I was always fascinated by my uncle’s ardor and grinta, by his joy for life and love of family, by his commitment to every cause he puts his mind to, by his generosity and bigheartedness.  He lived the way he played; running, tackling, pushing and shoving, fighting hard – durable indeed because the beautiful game thought him a lot about life and he took it all in his stride.  He gave all to his family, children and nephews – no wonder he was and remains irreplaceable. 

These reflections all popped up in a jiffy as I interviewed Fr Hillary Taliaferro who personified all of the above ideals. 

He saw football not simply as a pass-time but as a lesson for himself and those he shared his life with.  He wanted to teach his boys at Tarxien and Paola to give it all, to work hard, to make good use of one’s energy.  Football didn’t make life trouble-free for him.  In actual fact he was not afraid to take on Lorry Sant, not once but twice or so, even if this Labour stalwart was at the pinnacle of his calling, considered promising and had the backing of his leader at the time Dom Mintoff.  Fr Hilary developed the notion of ‘skola sport’, a concept he still leads.  For him the philosophy that shows the way is simple; sense of justice, fairness and evenhandedness.   

Fr Hillary was never bothered with the challenges.  He believed that football is a simple language that all children and young people could understand, where people could communicate not through anger and aggression but through zeal and purpose – and it was worth all the energy he put into it.  He stood up to whoever needed it (once he even got arrested because he defied Lorry Sant)!  Fr Hilary spoke to me on the many events that have put him on the line but his underlying goal was to support and educate children and young people, to instill in them the love and persona of Jesus not in a rote, monotonous and tiresome method but by seeing the values of Christ as a way of engaging socially. 

Many recall that he wouldn’t wear crosses and a clerical collar and would drive around on motorbikes.  Once someone even accused him of having a female pillion on his lambretta. After being questioned by Archbishop Gonzi it transpired that it was a Hibernians player with long hair who had been given a lift by Fr Hilary after a football game!  No need to mention how amused the Archbishop was when Fr Hilary explained what had happened.  Many were shocked, almost offended by the choices he made in his life – but he wasn’t bothered.  He felt he was doing the right thing, kicking up dust for sure, but for a good cause.  His idea of how a Priest lives his vocation was that of being as close to the people as possible. 

To really understand the impact the ‘beautiful game’ had on him you only need to listen to Fr Hilary speak on the players that impressed him not for their athleticism but for the way skill blends with humility, temperament and moral fiber – players like Pele’ and Messi matched up to this as far as he was concerned. On the other hand whilst he recognized the cleverness of footballers like Maradona and George Best, the absence of spirit and strength of character do not go down well with him. 

I’m no expert in football, but since meeting Fr Hilary, who helped revive my fond family memories and reminiscences, I realized that there is more to a game than people chasing a ball!