Culture

The Sherry Derby

Xerez Deportivo bar
~ From Boothferry To Germany ~ 12 Comments

This weekend would have marked the beginning of the Feria de Jerez; the annual celebration of the various traditions that collectively define the intoxicating Flamenco culture of Spain’s south. Horsemanship, Sevillana dancing, delicate guitar playing, melancholy singing and – of course – sherry are all consumed in abundance by locals eager to revel in the cultural vibrancy of their ville. Coincidentally, today marks two months since the FBTG team last attended a Football game, which happened to be the biggest game of the 2019/2020 season played in Jerez de la Frontera. Though it may seem Continue reading →

The Kozakken Boys

Kozakken Boys fc
~ From Boothferry To Germany ~ Leave a comment

It isn’t often the FBTG boys wake up on a Saturday morning in the Netherlands. But when we do, we are seldom in a state to drive.

On our first Football-culture trip to the Netherlands, stadium tours in Alkmaar and Amsterdam were pleasant, but ultimately outdone by a rain-soaked yet brilliant Friday evening contest between SC Telstar and FC Twente and the Rabobank IJmond Stadion in IJmuiden. Mercifully Continue reading →

Sunnis, Sukarno and Soccer Pt II

Palembang fans
~ From Boothferry To Germany ~ 1 Comment

For part I of Sunnis, Sukarno and Soccer, please click here.

It is easy to make the mental leap that Indonesia is “more Muslim” than its sibling Malaysia is. But if that is the case, why are Koranic prayers read at before Football matches in Malaysia and not in Indonesia? The answer perhaps lies in the path to independence of both modern nation states.

It is something of a sour point to the Chinese and Indian Malaysians that Islam, a faith that is entirely foreign to them, has been chosen as their state religion. In a country where ethnicity is a factor that influences your legal rights and civil status, the Chinese and Indian Malaysians are somewhat used to playing second fiddle.

The British facilitated the migration of their ancestors from Canton and Kerala into their Southeast Asian territories in Continue reading →

Sunnis, Sukarno and Soccer Pt I

JDT Malaysian super league
~ From Boothferry To Germany ~ 3 Comments

A gruff voice boomed across the ground, magnified to ensure absolute clarity. The chatter of noise from the terraces stopped abruptly. All spectators shuffled to their feet. On the ground floor, I was already on mine, but to my left a handful of young men in one of the media boxes end their conversation and put their smartphones away in haste before bowing their heads. The exact message of the announcement was lost on me, but I Continue reading →

Manzanilla & the Atlético Sanluqueño Story

Solear Manzanilla futbol
~ From Boothferry To Germany ~ 10 Comments

In exotically named Sanlúcar de Barrameda, Sevilla Atlético arrived at the Estadio el Palmar confident of three easy points. The outfit that forms part of the Sevilla FC organisation did not assume that local outfit Atlético Sanluqueño CF, embroiled in the relegation battle from their group in La Segunda B, would put up much of a fight. Somewhat surprisingly, a Continue reading →