Soccer: What lovely memories, excitement and thoughts that word brings up. At this particular moment, the world is enthralled with the World Championship of Football - yes, I call it football, because I am under the impression that it’s the only real “foot” ball game. Just imagine, please, the high number of people who are tuning in to cheer for their country - if they have gone through to the higher rounds, compete on the stage of the most watched sporting tournament the world can offer. The great thing is that all places hold some interest in this sporting event. It is something relevant from Australia to South America, from Europe through Asia to the United States of America.

Consider, if you will, the love of the supporters of these worldwide nations, when they score a point to either give them the upper hand in a particular match, or even more heart-stopping, the winning goal in the final of the World Cup!

OK, now that we’re excited about that, think of the fact that, sadly, there are people on this earth who have little or almost no interest in The World Championships of Football or the anticipation of it. The type to whom I refer, are those that need the pleasure of the other “football” codes on offer in this varying world of ours.

Allow me to explain: We have some other codes of football played around the world. The United States have their own particular method and in other places, Rugby League and Rugby Union are followed with a passion beyond compare, the latter reaching euphoric status in places like New Zealand. There is another kind of football played in Australia called Australian Rules football, with love, known as “footy”, although I tend to overlook this game as kind of a novelty sport. This is because it not often played worldwide and is practically impossible to be compared favourably to the other codes as a spectacle, mainly because of administration issues. That is not really meant to say that it doesn’t have a lot of following.

Let me claim this first of all - whichever of the ball games is your most well liked, fine. I can deal with that. It’s just the way in which you refer to your sport that I find somewhat strange. I have seen criticism of football - the true football I mean - making jabs about the ballet-style heading prowess of the players and the acting abilities of some of its professional participants and, there are times that, I agree with that.

But, facts are facts, true and undeniable. “Soccer” is the only football code that pushes the use and skill of the feet for its players. The word, simply, is “football”.

In all the other mentioned codes, nine out of ten times, the ball is held by the players’ hands. OK so they kick it on occasion - very occasionally in the US method. So, there is likely an argument for not calling that particular code “football” at all - when you consider that they only call someone onto the field as one whose specialty is to actually kick the ball; to either kick off a game or make additional “bonus” scoring points to a team’s total.

Enough is really enough. I could go on until the end of time. Don’t think we could ever make it to a court of law with this one, because everyone will certainly have their opinions about their favourites, but I suppose I’ve given a fair argument for Soccer being the only and true Football.