Wague’s self-sacrifice
The body often works unconsciously and through pure instinct. That of the winner. In those moments, the mind is often discreetly set to one side. Because that’s the way football has evolved. On the limits. Those who saw PAOK’s game at Aris witnessed a scene of pure self-sacrifice that came at a great personal cost for Moussa Wague.
In football unfortunately we have learned to judge people very quickly, hastily and often harshly, sometimes based on football clichés that have become our experience. One of those such clichés is that a player on loan is not really committed because he is waiting for the moment when he will return to his club.
After the PAOK vs. Aris match, this is a rationale that we should all think twice about before uttering it. The match entered its 60th minute when Bertolio raced clean through on goal, and with only Paschalakis to beat he lobbed the ball over the Double-headed Eagle goalkeeper. The ball sailed agonizingly from the boot of the Aris player towards goal. The home side seemed destined to go 2-0 up, but it was at that moment that Moussa Wague appeared.
The Senegalese sprinted towards his own goal and lunged at the ball, managing to clear it off the line. However, as he made that goal-saving intervention, his trailing leg got stuck in the turf and he crashed into the post.
The result shocked everyone. Wague lay in a crumpled heap, writhing in pain. The Aris medical staff who were closest to the scene at the time rushed to help the player. The results of the medical examinations that followed showed that Wague badly injured his knee in multiple places in his effort to stop a goal.
And for this very reason, it was decided that December’s PAOK TV Play of the Month competition would not be put to a poll, and instead be awarded directly to the player as a show of appreciation. It is the least we can do as a thank you.
We wish you a good and quick recovery Moussa. We can’t wait to have you back with us, stronger than ever.
Log in to your PAOK TV account and relive Moussa’s heroics.
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