Significant challenges

I read an article that mentions a Japanese saying in the beginning that goes like this: “if you win the battle, fasten your helmet.” The author says it’s a simple way to summarize Zanshin (“continuous mind”), a term commonly used in martial arts. That’s the act of staying alert even when the obvious thing to do would be to relax and rest.

If you win the battle in football, you can be crowned champion. And in achieving that goal, many teams and football players are inundated with the poignant question: what now? The well-deserved reward for the effort, struggle and physical and mental exhaustion can provide a feeling of mission accomplished. And with it a harmful relaxation and a loss on the demanding and permanent path of high competition.

In Junior’s case, the one who just won the second semester battle, and following the Japanese saying, must “tighten his helmet.” That means: reconsider the objectives, maintain the mystique, increase commitment and sacrifices; strengthening human talent, improving tactical operations, stimulating and strengthening the winning mentality.

The Copa Libertadores, the defense of the title and the centenary are presented as very inspiring stimuli. Reasons that are attractive enough to make 2024 a special year. Recognizing the continental supremacy of the Brazilian and Argentinian clubs, Junior must increase his ambitions and not be won over by the conformist attitude of just competing.

The challenge is great, the structural, nominal, mental and economic difference between those teams and the Colombian competition teams is very clear, but taking a few steps forward, reducing the distances and overcoming some stages should not be unattainable goals for Junior. Final letters to wish you, kind readers of this column, a Merry Christmas.