My Artifact

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My Artifact

My artifact is the Kuwait national team’s jersey. It is blue in color and has a logo on the top right corner of the country. The logo’s image presented is the trophy in shape with the national flag inside it. The Kuwait national soccer team is nicknamed Al-Azrag in short of the blues. Soccer is my country’s favorite and number one sport. My country’s first ever podium finish was at the Asian cup where it came second among the participating teams. In 1980, in a similar tournament, my country was able to be crowned champions before finishing third in the 1984 version of the tournament. In the Arabian Gulf Cup, my country has won the competition ten times, with the last one being in 2010. The biggest margin of victory was against Bahrain in 2000 where we won 20-0. Apart from soccer, my country participated in the Olympic Games of 2000 is Sydney.

The fondest memory of the jersey dates back to 2011. It was my first participation in the national team setup as an under-sixteen member. The team was due to participate in the Arabian Gulf Cup of that year and I had been selected on trial basis of the national camp. Before the championship, we had a sport camping in Dubai before proceeding to Oman, which was the host city of the tournament. Our very first match was against Iraq and it proved a particularly exciting game. We went on to win 2-1 as I made the winning goal assist. It was the beginning of my national team career as I went on to participates in the East Asia Cup, Asia Cup, and World Cup qualifiers as a midfielder in the team, with added responsibility.

One of the significant aspects of my artifact is the ritual practiced especially before the match and after. After the national team had been named by the coach on the previous day to the match, I would place it in the middle of my locker with the bible on top of it. I would conduct prayers for divine intervention before leaving and before putting it on when the match day arrived. I would pray for victory and clearance from any form of injury. As I observed, other teammates had their own personal forms of rituals, depending on their faiths and beliefs. Some would sprinkle anointing water while others would sleep in their jerseys the day before the actual match. It was a symbol of hope for the team and national outlook, since none of us wanted to disappoint the country.

The Kuwait national soccer team jersey symbolizes honor and pride. As an Asian country with the developing world status attached to it, the jersey enables a sense of belonging and responsibility. Before the selection process, there is thorough scrutiny of the players interested in joining the national team. Different people sacrifice and work hard to attain the opportunity of being selected among the camp members. After the camp is notified, the level of competition for a spot in the team is intensified under the instructions and watchful eye of the national team selectors. It takes about three months for the fine-tuning process and elimination of surplus requirements. Once the team is selected, there is added responsibility in terms of active participation. Therefore, donning the jersey becomes a sense of pride and honor on fulfilling the national assignments for everyone.

Different tournaments require differential attires and combined gears for use throughout the process. It is mandatory from the national team’s authority to equip each player with the required uniforms. Thus, every session from the training, preparations and actual playing during the match day enables the players have a collection of the national team jersey for all the marked occasions and participations. In my closet, I have several of the national team jerseys along the very first one. My first ever jersey, the artifact, is the most important of all as compared to the rest. I treasure it more than any other due to the significance does in my career that it holds. It marked my breakthrough and success of all the hard work I had input as becoming a footballer, while representing the country was not easy.

The importance of the jersey cannot be stressed further from the truth. It represents one of the strongest and most disciplined team in Asia, while the added success of championships, victories, and silverware adds to the national pride. Secondly, my artifact signifies to my family the level of accomplishment and dedication I have towards each one of them and serving my country with dignity. It enhances the belief that there is life through sports and can fulfill an individual’s dream. The accomplishments are testament to both local and international assignments and their importance to soccer in general. Finally, the soccer jersey is my value towards my passion in the sport as I aim to pursue it as a career once I complete my studies and subsequent graduation.