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Dirt, sweat and the Indian sun combined to needle the skin of Jose Fernandez and his Margao City team-mates. They were down one-nil to their arch rivals Colva Village, and forced to play the bulk of the game without their shirts as a penalty for allowing Colva to score the first goal.

Taunts from the opposition spectators increased in volume as the final whistle approached. Margao City relied on Jose to muster whatever strength was left in his body to save his team yet again.

Inter village football matches were hard fought and very competitive in the soccer-mad city of Goa on the west coast of India. This particular grudge match had been a typically tough encounter and now a Colva victory appeared imminent.

A cross flew from the boot of Henry, the Margao City right winger. Jose strategically anticipated his foot powerfully contacting the ball and sending it rocketing past the goalkeeper. Pushing off a defender, he flung himself into the air and whipped his right leg across his body resulting in a perfectly struck volley - just as he envisioned. It was exactly what Jose was capable of and the fact he did it with four minutes remaining in the game delighted his team-mates. They had been expecting something special from their most gifted player. The opposition reluctantly predicted Jose would impact on the game at some point. Although with the end only minutes away they were beginning to believe his brilliance could be nullified. The volley he'd just performed reminded Colva Village that Jose could not be tamed; the score was now one all.

The fierce rivalry between the two teams meant either would have traded a win against any club, possibly two wins, just to beat each other. Victory was a point of honor, and led to a tidy profit for those who had wagered on the outcome. Jose knew he could deliver another goal allowing Margao City to triumph. His confidence swelled when he received the ball just outside the penalty area.

Jose was instantaneously surrounded by opposition player's intent on dispossessing him. Their legs thrashed wildly at the ball and at Jose, hoping to come into contact with either one. Jose back-heeled the ball behind himself and through the flailing legs. He turned and hurdled a challenge from one opponent on his way toward goal. Suddenly, his legs were cut from under him in what was a crude, savage tackle. Jose felt the rough playing surface grind against his skin. A hand on the back of his head pressed his face into the mixture of sand and soil

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