Great technical skills can carry an athlete a very long way. These skills with concurrent physical attributes such as speed, strength, co-ordination can make a very formidable athlete indeed.
But all great athletes have one attribute that cannot be trained. It must be there already, it is within them from the moment they are born and remains with them long after they retire (look at Gary Neville or Mark Hughes).
Without desire their is no victory, a talent that is just going through the motions. Torres' had desire but it was only evident when he thought or felt that Liverpool was going to be in the Champion's League. That is not true desire. It is a selfish desire. A true "winner" is won that wants victory regardless of where it places their team. It is a selfless desire for the greater good of the team.
Liverpool's current example of selfless desire in none other than Dirk Kuyt. Game in game out he plays to win. He wants to win and he will sacrifice himself to win. It is his purpose as soon as he steps on the field. liverpool is very fortunate to have him in the front row, or anywhere on the field for that matter. This is a player that is critical for a team's success and any player like that is worth their weight in gold.
Tonight I watched a young woman play with desire. She wanted her team to win. before the match I asked her how many goals she would get. "Three" she replied. But what was more important was what she said after. "We will get seven". Seven. She alone scored three in the first half. The team scored seven. The team. Her desire was to score for the team and for the team to win.
Desire can overcome many things, desire can't be beaten. A good tackle can stop a run, a great save can stop a shot, but desire cannot be stopped. Desire creates more desire, it encourages others to perform. Even in the face of defeat desire does not quit.
It can't be trained, but find that player that wants the team to win, and you have yourself your own Dirk Kuyt, and that is real good.
Walk On
Hal White
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