Kzn LifeStyle Magazine #12

13
FIFA 17’s headline
feature is
The Journey,
a story about
a prodigious
young talent attempting to
make a name for himself
in the Premier League. It’s
a microcosm of everything
that’s good and bad about
FIFA – peerless presentation
surrounding a match engine
that’s an improvement on
last year, but still needs work
– and yet it’s the most fun
I’ve had with the series for
a good few seasons. Perhaps
more importantly, it’s
a welcome reminder of the
personal stories at the heart
of a sport (and a series) that,
in recent times, has felt more
concerned with its corporate
identity. It’s not easy to find
ways to surprise people in
an annualised game, but this
is a very pleasant one.
The story of likeable 17-yearold
Alex Hunter and his rise
from unvarnished academy
product to bright young
starlet follows a conventional
path – not quite rags
to riches, but close – though
it’s affectingly told, even
if FIFA 17’s PEGI rating
ensures that it’s a rather airbrushed
take on the modern
game. Still, the setbacks and
insults sting – on his debut
as a substitute the opposition
fans taunt him with a
chant of “who are ya?” while
you’ll attract social media
criticism from supporters
and fellow professionals (at
one stage, an embittered exteammate
hashtags you as
a #benchwarmer). Naturally,
this only made me all the
more determined to succeed.
As someone who has been
horrified by the steady
marginalisation of this great
football institution, Hunter’s
passion for the FA Cup
(driven by a family legacy, as
per sports movie tradition)
struck a powerful chord with
me, and I shared his frustration
at being considered too
young to feature in a bloodand-thunder
cup tie. When
Swansea, my chosen team,
finally gave him his chance, I
was determined that Hunter
(and I) would take it – and
we did. As he slotted in his
third goal the crowd began
chanting his name before
launching into a full-throated
version of Hymns and Arias,
and I’m not too proud to say
I got a little choked up.
It’s sentimental, but appropriately
so – football
fans seem especially prone
to outbursts of emotion,
from full-blown weeping at
relegations to misty-eyed
reminiscences of “the good
old days”. The Journey also
represents the fripperies
of the modern game well,
as you’d expect – from
post-match interviews with
dialogue responses that can
affect your standing with
your manager, teammates,
and supporters, to a choice
of branded boots for your
first sponsorship deal. If the
excessive branding is a bit
of a turn-off, it’s also quite
authentic. Otherwise, The
Journey is surprisingly down
Kzn Lifestyle Magazine • Issue 12