On September 26th, while training hard on the field, Ma’el received a call from Mr. Wenger, who hoped he could attend a charity event.
His instinctive first reaction was actually to resist; he felt he hadn’t reached that phase yet.
Or rather, he didn’t want his calm and quiet life to be disrupted by various activities.
After joining the Premier League teams, he led a very routine life every day, apart from his extra training, he would only complete the team’s training sessions.
The extra training was all by himself, although tedious, it was highly free.
The mid-season training intensity of the team wasn’t high; it mostly involved specific tactical drills and set-piece exercises based on next match’s opponent.
Besides that, the power training and physical ability training were no different from his own extra practices.
Under such circumstances, he had gradually found a rhythm of life in London, unwilling to let it be shattered.
"Can I just donate so money remotely?"
Ma’el inquired of Mr. Wenger, wanting to handle this event simply.
"You’re mistaken."
Mr. Wenger’s voice was very calm and patient: "Charity events are not just about donations; kindness cos in many forms such as love, fulfillnt, compensation, etc.
"This is an event caring for Arsenal’s disabled fans. So of them have no legs but co to the Emirates Stadium every day in wheelchairs, so are blind, and so are deaf and mute."
"Ah....." Upon hearing it was a charity event for Arsenal fans, Ma’el’s heart softened a bit, deeply knowing the fans’ weekly support for him.
The atmosphere at Emirates Stadium is always excellent, with Arsenal’s fans lighting it up with excitent every ti.
It’s also because of this that he could leave so many unforgettable monts and emotional highs there.
And upon hearing about the disabled fans.....Ma’el didn’t hesitate anymore, he imdiately stepped aside to change his shoes and said to Mr. Wenger, "What ti does it start?"
"At six, we need to have dinner together."
"I’ll be there by five fifty."
Ma’el quickly changed his shoes and thought of changing his clothes too, but after thinking, decided to keep them on.
He could make up for the training hours of the day in the evening, for now, attending this event was more important.
He always felt very fortunate in his life and sotis felt anxious.....If the chance arose, he would definitely give back to these less fortunate fans within his ability.
...
At the Emirates Stadium, in the suite’s restaurant, it was sparsely populated, but there were many caras set up.
Several people of different ages but each with their own misfortune sat around a round table, looking happily awaiting the club’s coaches and players.
"I can’t see."
A boy around sixteen smiled, hopeful: "When Mr. Wenger arrives later, be sure to tell ."
"Sure." An elderly man in a wheelchair nodded. He had no legs, but elsewhere, he had no issues, "Who’s your favorite player?"
"It used to be Fabregas.....he was with the team when I was very young and stayed until last year."
The boy looked straight ahead, but his face was expressive, "Everyone knows what happened afterward, I don’t bla him, but I don’t like him anymore.
"Later, I liked Van Persie, Koscielny.....now I really like Ma’el."
"I also like Ma’el." The elderly man in the wheelchair nodded and smiled, "He surprises us every week, all my recent joy cos from him."
After speaking, he looked elsewhere, where there were two fully-limbed people who hadn’t spoken, a man and a woman.
The man was about thirty years old, wearing a torn Arsenal jacket, with long beard and hair, looking like a vagabond.
The girl looked about seventeen or eighteen, very pretty, with a pale face. Her eyes were filled with curiosity about everything, looking naive, arousing sympathy.
"What about you two?" the elderly man in a wheelchair asked, puzzled about why they were sitting there.
"Van Persie, Ma’el, Walcott." The middle-aged man lowered his head, displaying a shyness unusual for his age, or a fear of conversation.
From his animated expression, he appeared quite happy today.
Perhaps because of this, after lowering his head, he still awkwardly attempted to talk to the others, "I can see and hear, but I have three kinds of illnesses.
"Because of polio as a child, I’m extrely sensitive to everything, especially the gaze of others.....as I grew, this situation gradually worsened and extended to other aspects.
"I was diagnosed with mild autism and severe claustrophobia, unable to take vehicles or planes, even unable to stay in a room alone, and too many people don’t work either.
"Later, as I grew older, with my parents’ help, I began to face these problems and confront them, trying various ways to overco them, wanting to live like a normal person."
Speaking to this point, he slowly raised his head, smiling: "Seven years ago, I watched my first Arsenal match, originally to use stimulation to solve my condition.
"Later, I realized it was extrely effective. I fell in love with football, fell in love with Arsenal, which has healed in many ways.
"Because I still couldn’t bear taking transportation to the away gas, I began attempting to cycle around the United Kingdom to watch all of the team’s Premier League matches.
"I ride very slowly....often traveling for days but still unable to reach my destination, missing that round’s away ga, sotis I’d cry with sadness.
"But because of this, I didn’t have high ntal expectations, and as long as I caught an away ga, I’d be very happy, not caring about winning or losing."
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