They say once is a charm, twice is a pattern but three times is habit.
Heidelberg has despatched three successive A-League opponents with such potency that, even I, have been struggling for superlatives.
Fortunately, in high school we were forced to ‘swallow’ Roget’s Thesaurus and as much as I despised it at the time, I have taken great pleasure in regurgitating it over recent weeks!
Much has been written about Heidelberg’s feats over recent weeks and many have been astounded.
Standing alongside the hardened soccer faithful at Olympic Village over the past two years, we were confident that the outcomes would be favourable against both the Wanderers and Phoenix.
Auckland is under the stewardship of wonder-coach Steve Corica and was always set for a ‘ring-a-ding’ battle.
Having followed Heidelberg’s unwavering progress since the appointment of the ‘dynamic duo’ (Johnny A & his assistant Nick Deligiannis) at the start of last year, the recent achievements have followed form.
3-0 against the Wanderers, 4-0 against Phoenix and 2-0 against Auckland.
That is a cumulative and compelling, 9-0!
The A-League, flat on its back.
One of the greatest sports images of history with Ali standing over his floored opponent, Sonny Liston, came to mind.
Speaking with Johnny A, a couple of days after the game, when the adulation had subsided and the spotlight of national attention had moved on, he was remarkably practical, stern and focused on the minutiae.
“We haven’t won anything yet”, was his crisp response to my boyish enthusiasm as I attempted to lavish praises.
“Players make coaches”, he added, frowning with an intensity that spelt… DETERMINATION.
Whilst he acknowledges that he has drawn on the depths of his now vast experience as a player and a coach, he was adamant that the players are the ones who have risen to successive new levels of attainment and executed brilliantly.
Johnny A emphasised that recent results are purely a direct result of high intention and sincere effort over an extended period of two seasons.
For two years, training has been relentless, five and sometimes six days a week. The players themselves have hardened their resolve and even on two days rest, as was the case with the Wanderers, were able to crush the opponent like a disciplined Macedonian fighting phalanx.
Against Auckland, Yokokawa’s exquisite through ball with the outside of the foot in the 75th, Bul Juach’s physicality, pace and calm finish, which lead to the first goal, are practiced, rehearsed and now, almost expected.
Eight minutes later, McGowan’s insightful through ball to put Yokokawa though from deep, blindsided the Auckland defence and made it 2-0.
And as we know from Aristotle (Alexander the Great’s teacher), “we are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit”.
I went further in suggesting that, this remarkable run is beyond simply the physical and the players have ‘caught the dream’.
Heidelberg is by no means blessed with the biggest budget nor the biggest names but somehow, Johnny A has made the sum… greater than the parts.
Seeing soccer played like this I added, is a thing of beauty and whilst beauty may be intangible it is nonetheless virtuous and leads to ευδαιμονία. Like filotimo, it does not directly translate but means deep, blissful contentment.
I went further and suggested to Johnny A that we have been privileged to witness something beyond his 50 years immersed in the game and that he is drawing on his deep cultural heritage.
I suggested to Johnny A that I feel he is channelling the spirit of the club’s namesake, Alexander the Great, who having fought great battles against what seemed insurmountable odds throughout Asia Minor, stood at the ‘Gates of Persopolis’ ready to sweep on the ultimate prize, the spiritual capital of the Persian Empire.
Similarly, Heidelberg stands at the precipice of history, winning the Australia Cup and a representing Australia in the Asia Cup.
Thoughts become words
Words become actions
Actions become habits
Habits become character and
Character becomes Destiny.
When I finished by philosophical rant, even Johnny A allowed himself a moment of reflection and emotion.
He gritted his teeth, I wished him the best and he returned to his task immediately before him – preparing his Warriors for Friday’s showdown v The Preston Lions!
Elias Deligiannis, Heidelberg’s long serving ex-President, stated that any further success in the Australia Cup will be greater than that of the even the greatest Heidelberg team of 1980. With Gary Cole, Rooney, Olver etc, Heidelberg back then comprised half the Australian national team.
Such is the power of self-belief. And Johnny A has got the team believing.
Destiny awaits.
