Amo here, from the shop. This 12:30 AM kickoff nonsense is bad for my blood pressure—last week I was watching Arsenal from behind the counter, and a customer came for Maggi just as we conceded. Kiba, I had to serve him with a face like I’d lost my own brother. And this VAR, ashe, they take three minutes to decide if a toenail was offside, but my old fridge that hums like a dying tractor gets no such review before it fails. I’d trust the linesman from our village football league—he’s been wrong fewer times than these men with screens in Stockley Park.

Watching those continental nights where FC Goa's academy products moved the ball with such patience, ashe, it reminded me of our local league matches here. My own stubborn fridge finally cooling a batch of noodles for the evening crowd felt like a small victory, similar to seeing young talent nurtured properly. If such possession football can bring promise to a community, then perhaps we should invest more in our own village pitches, kiba.