At a time where the A-League is captivated by ‘The Bolt Trial’, we seemed to have forgotten that greatness can exist outside of the glitz and the glamour, somewhere in a quiet corner of the Belmore Sports Ground.
Yep, I’m talking about Sydney Olympic’s very own scoring machine, Alex Sanchez.
The deadly, dark blue-clad goalscoring menace, sending ball into net with a cultured flick of his boot.
Making the impossible seem impossibly… easy.
A skill in itself, to be sure. But it is evermore impressive when you realise that he does it single handedly – literally. 24 goals in a season, all scored by a footballer lacking a hand.
The A-League is often derided for a perceived lack of quality. But greatness exists in many forms.
What makes a league great? It need not be the technical brilliance of the players alone.
While we might never compete technically with the Spaniards, outmanoeuvre the Italians at tactics, or forge the flair of the French, we have our own strengths – an underdog spirit, a burning defiance.
And it is that spirit that Sanchez embodies. We’ve heard of footballers derided for a lack of physical qualities. Leo Messi was judged to be too short for pro football, for example. Now imagine the derision, the mockery multiplied a thousandfold – when Sanchez when decided to pursue football despite being physically impaired.
We love sport for its ability to uplift and inspire. There is something magical about overcoming difficulties and setbacks to reach and ultimate triumph. Victory is sweeter.
What better embodiment is there than a footballer who overcame the crap hand that life had dealt him?
So I call upon the A league clubs. Sign the man up, and make him the face of the club. Because in a league that proclaims itself to be a place where Heroes Are Made, it’s the least he deserves.
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