Saturday we had another football match with Alan. Batan played against Viera, one of the best teams. The result: a very tough but brilliant win! We started badly with 0-1, then 0-2, but we fought our way back. 1-2, 2-2, 3-2 (Alan scored), 4-2. Halftime. Then 4-3, 5-3, 5-4, 5-5… and right after the equaliser, a goal straight from the kickoff: 6-5. Amazing. The spectators/parents went wild with joy. The kids even got a guard of honour as they left the pitch.
A Spanish masterpiece. Don Quijote tells the story of Alonso Quijano, a man so obsessed with chivalric tales that he reinvents himself as the knight Don Quixote and sets out with his loyal squire Sancho Panza on a series of misguided adventures shaped more by fantasy than reality.
At school, Alan had signed up a few days ago as a volunteer to read a page written in Old Spanish at the university. After a lot of practice, he was able to read his page perfectly today. We’re incredibly proud of Alan, who showed today that he really doesn’t mind being in the spotlight for a moment.
And of course, a TV crew was there as well to capture this bit of culture, and naturally the atypically blond Alan was chosen for a short interview.
It was going to be a tough match. We had already played them away, and that hadn’t been pleasant: an extremely physical team. During that previous match, a teammate’s shin guards had even been snapped in half. We lost that game, and everyone was aware of the potential dangers. Alan had spent the past weeks practising extra on jumping and dodging.
Today was the day, and the start was immediately bad. In the very first minute we conceded a goal. 0-1. Ah well, I thought, Alan is starting on the bench, so we’ll see how it goes.
But then something unexpected happened: the equaliser! 1-1. Nobody saw that coming, and the whole game shifted. Slowly the match became more physical, but we held our ground. The goals kept coming: 2-1, 3-1, 3-2, 4-2, 4-3, 5-3, 5-4, and finally 6-4.
Alan also scored a beautiful goal. From midfield, high into the corner. Unstoppable. The crowd was completely caught up in the tension, and emotions were running high. The coaches and the referee even had to calm down some of the parents and family members. Well… that’s how it goes sometimes.
A simple costume can create a surprising amount of magic, especially when it’s worn by an incredibly charismatic and photogenic little character. Add a few finishing touches, and you’ve got pure spectacle.
Alan Presley is more than ready to take the school’s Carnival celebration to the next level. One thing’s for sure, with him around, everyone will be dancing in no time.
The game: Batan B – Real Sporting B
Results
| Datum | Thuis | Resultaat | Bezoekers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 29 Nov, 09:00 | Batan B | 6 – 1 | Real Sporting B |
| 23 Nov, 10:30 | Lomo Blanco | 2 – 6 | Batan B |
We won again! A nice game with lots of goals. We can clearly see the teams are much more equal now, and that makes for much better games to watch.
The game: Lomo Blanco – Batan B
Results
| Datum | Thuis | Resultaat | Bezoekers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23 Nov, 10:30 | Lomo Blanco | 2 – 6 | Batan B |
Yes!, last Sunday Batan Alevín B achieved a convincing 6 – 2 victory. A welcome improvement compared to the previous phase. It was an enjoyable match that was finally rewarded with a splendid win.
The aftermatch: As you can clearly see in the photo taken after the match the players themselves were also in the mood for celebration.
There are
The second type is a team where results matter. Here, you’re expected to show up for every match and perform well. If you don’t stand out as a player, you’re asked to go elsewhere. These teams are meant for top talent, and that’s not what we’re looking for with Alan. Today, Alan is playing against one of those professional teams.
The third type is the neighborhood team that could just as well be a wrestling club. Alan played against one of those last week. There’s little discipline and lots of pushing, pulling, and kicking.
The other team played like an oiled machine, and they won with 17 goals, but still, we had some chances and it was an enjoyable game.
Results
| Date | Home | Result | Visitor |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Nov, 09:00 | Batan B | 0 – 17 | Las Torres C |
| 26 Oct, 09:00 | Guiniguada B | 3 – 0 | Batan B |
| 18 Oct, 09:00 | Batan B | 1 – 10 | Carnevali |
| 11 Oct, 09:00 | Simusetti C.F. A | 20 – 3 | Batan B |
| 4 Oct, 09:00 | Batan B | 0 – 10 | San Lazaro U.D. A |
The next phase will start in a couple of weeks. This time the teams will be better aligned to their respective levels, and that will hopefully give us a couple of more interesting matches, with some options to win and boost moral.
Unfortunately, we didn’t win. This time it was an emotional match. Two of our coaches were sent off the field. The other team had some bigger players who were playing very physically. One of our players ended the match with a shin guard that had been kicked in half. Many players went home with a few new bruises. Luckily, Alan is alert and quick. I saw him jump over an outstretched leg a few times to avoid some unwanted pain.
The next match is against one of the strongest clubs, so we don’t have high expectations for that one. But after that, we’ll be in a group that’s more at our level, so it’ll be more fun again and hopefully with plenty of chances to win.
Results
| Date | Home | Result | Visitor |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26 Oct, 09:00 | Guiniguada B | 3 – 0 | Batan B |
| 18 Oct, 09:00 | Batan B | 1 – 10 | Carnevali |
| 11 Oct, 09:00 | Simusetti C.F. A | 20 – 3 | Batan B |
| 4 Oct, 09:00 | Batan B | 0 – 10 | San Lazaro U.D. A |
Despite the heavy loss, it was still a very exciting match. Our team attacked fiercely, and there were many near goals. They just missed, bounced the wrong way off the post, or the goalkeeper jumped in just in time. The match could just as easily have ended 6–10. Still a loss, of course, but that doesn’t matter at all. The kids had a great time playing together as a team.
Results
| Date | Home | Result | Visitor |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18 Oct, 09:00 | Batan B | 1 – 10 | Carnevali |
| 11 Oct, 09:00 | Simusetti C.F. A | 20 – 3 | Batan B |
| 4 Oct, 09:00 | Batan B | 0 – 10 | San Lazaro U.D. A |
Both of my sons are clearly related to their parents. They resemble me, are intelligent like their mother, and clever like their father. They’re both slim, just like us, and strong like Ana. In many ways, they’re very similar, but even now it’s clear that each is choosing his own path and those paths are quite different.
Alex is calm and cautious. He observes first, evaluates, and only then takes action. He knows the best way to approach things, but if someone has a different opinion, he has no problem solving something in a less-than-optimal way. He’s extremely diplomatic. He clearly thinks about his future and makes plans that influence it. Alex is the friend you can trust, the helping hand in times of need.
Alan takes risks. He often acts on intuition and relies on his instincts. He’s impulsive. It’s hard for him to concentrate on his homework, and he prefers to postpone it. His priority is enjoying the moment; he’s not yet focused on his future. Alan is the life of the party. If you’re feeling down, Alan will make sure you feel better again.
As parents, our role is to guide them, not to shape their paths. not to shape their paths. This can be challenging, as their differences require distinct approaches to parenting, and that demands both skill and sensitivity to avoid any perception of favoritism. Education is more than schoolwork; it’s about helping them discover who they are, what they value, and how they want to contribute to the world. Whether through structured learning or life’s everyday lessons, we aim to equip them with curiosity, resilience, and empathy. Our hope is that, whatever direction they choose, they’ll walk it with confidence, kindness, and purpose.