Over the next few days I would like to dissect an interesting topic: “What makes a soccer fanatic?”. I plan to look at many angles including views from the cultural and interpersonal levels of fellow soccer players and enthusiasts. Moreover, “What does choosing soccer have to say about you?”
Here is an excerpt from a recent interview between me and Himanshu, focusing on why I identify myself with this historic group.
Himanshu: Why Soccer?
Brandon: Soccer is more of a lifestyle than a sport. I have been playing soccer since I was six years old, and I learned to kick my first ball when I was four. Arguably, I didn’t learn to kick it correctly until I was much older (audience laughs) . My older brother has played it his whole life along with my younger brother, father, and cousins. My entire family has been watching soccer, professional soccer to be particular, since I could remember. It’s basically something that I grew into that I learned to love and appreciate more over the years.
Himanshu: Well why did you choose Soccer over other sports, like Football?
Brandon: Well this answer is pretty complicated. In short, I never really got caught up into American Football. It was always there, I guess, but that was it. I was never caught up into the atmosphere for many different reasons. Overall I think that where I grew up, which was a small Armenian town called Glendale, American football was not present. As I grew older my family moved a lot, so I lived with my grandparents who were Armenian and Russian immigrants. Both of which had a strong passion for soccer which developed through the culture they lived in. In middle school I remember other soccer players talking about how football players only have to run for 5-10 seconds then they get to rest, and have a water break. I guess this was another reason I didn’t ever get into football. It never made sense to me and the overall intensity of football seemed to be lacking, in my opinion.
Himanshu: American or European clubs and why?
Brandon: No doubt, European. American football, or American soccer is what I meant, I guess has been growing in popularity especially in the past few years. The intensity is still lacking when compared to European style football but the familiarity of American soccer among Americans is quickly growing. People used to not even really care about American soccer because it wasn’t even a real thing yet. This past world cup has been substantial for American soccer fans because the mens team made it to the quarter finals. I believe that the National team has a lot to do with the fan base in that country. Like the countries where soccer is incredibly popular, like Brazil and Germany, tend to do better as a national team and have a larger fan base.
Himanshu: Now do you have a role model?
If I had to choose a role model, it would be my cousin Raul. His whole life he has pushed me into playing soccer, and he bought me my first Barcelona jersey when I was eight. He chose a slightly different path than me, playing as a midfielder at Wake Forest currently. He would always come over to my house and want to pass the ball, or call me to come to a pickup game, and stuff like that. Overall he brought me into the culture of soccer and has been largely influential to me my whole life. I believe that soccer is a family centered sport, that focused on one team and also brings in many aspects that other sports cannot. A soccer team is not only the 11 on the field, but the ones in the stand also, or as my high school coach used to tell everyone.
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