Why Schalke 04? I asked. “I don’t know Schalke. This is Adidas.” It’s five in the morning and I’m having my first coffee at a street café in downtown Phnom Penh. Across the table from me, wearing a blue Schalke 04 shirt sits a man who can easily be an actor or a professional poker player. His face is like a rock, his left eye … Continue reading FC SCHALKE 04, WONG MENG
Why Liverpool? I asked. “Because I started dating Lev.” Smadar fell in love with Liverpool through her love for Lev. The amount of love in this post surely beats all the predecessors so I’ll leave it at that. Continue reading LIVERPOOL, SMADAR
Why Milan? I asked. “I like Milan and Barcelona. Because of Ronaldinho.” Zack was rushing down the street in a company of a young woman when I approached him. Even though in a rush, he was kind to stop for a picture. Ho got his shirt on sale, he said. He is from Montreal and currently studies at the Université de Montréal. And now that … Continue reading MILAN, ZACK
Why Saint-Étienne? I asked. “I’m from there.” When I was a kid, falling for the irresistible Liverpool team of that time, there was another team that was hard not to like. From a small town in France, with Yugoslav international goalkeeper Ivan Ćurković, winger Dominique Rocheteau and Argentinian fullback Osvaldo Piazza among other great players, Saint-Étienne played some great football and became the most successful … Continue reading SAINT-ÉTIENNE, ÉTIENNE
Why Liverpool? I asked. “When I realized that Yossi Benayoun plays for Liverpool I became a fan. You know, I’m Jewish.” Lev’s answer further complicates what’s already complicated; he provided yet another reason, first of this kind on this site, to fall for a club. We met in a pub one early Sunday morning and shared the experience of watching, on TV, Liverpool beat Man … Continue reading LIVERPOOL, LEV
Why Manchester City? I asked. “Mancini! Because of him.” Wait a second! Did he really say Mancini, Roberto Mancini? Will someone, please, stop this ferry – I’m afraid otherwise very smart and beautiful boy is not feeling well and he might need some assistance. I asked again, he said “because of Mancini” again. I know, Myanmar is just waking up from decades of isolation and can … Continue reading MANCHESTER CITY, NAING
Why Liverpool? I asked. “Born red, always red.” John was born in Liverpool so I inquired further: Why not Everton, why Liverpool? His father was a Liverpool fan and one of John’s earlier memories is of the 1971 FA Cup final between Liverpool and Arsenal at Wembley which his father attended. Liverpool lost the game but John became a fan. In all of his family only … Continue reading LIVERPOOL, JOHN
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