Union drew 1-1 with Real Sociedad. Thursday, in the Europa League. Behind for a long time, in Leuven. The goal came in the 88th minute.
I read it the next day, at the chip shop, in my weekly football paper. The scorer is called Sekou Keita. Twenty years old. At the Union academy since 2023. He came on, and four minutes later he met a Matteo Biondic free kick at the far post. First professional goal.
I looked for what was wrong. It’s my trade.
This summer, five clubs showed an interest in him. Union did not want to let him go, they were counting on him. A club that keeps its youngster because it counts on him. In 1980, we called that a club. Today we write an article. I’m not criticising. I’m comparing.
He got his chance because the squad was ravaged by injuries. Before, too, that’s how you got in. You waited. He said it to Sporza, the Flemish broadcaster, and I translate: “I’ve really been waiting for this for a long time.”
He also told 7sur7, the Belgian news site, that he was enjoying it, “even if, unfortunately, there’s no win at the end of it”. A boy of twenty who regrets the missing point on the night of his first goal. That, I recognise.
Marcel with nothing to complain about, that’s historic. I’m weighing my words.
I folded the paper back up. A free kick, a far post, a boy from the house. I read it twice. I found nothing. Well. It’s the times.
It’s true, we checked: 7sur7.
