This thing has now crossed the border of ridiculous. So, against my will, kicking and screaming as I come, I must speak on a bit of controversy that has risen from the ashes of last Saturday’s Kaua’i Interscholastic Federation championship
This thing has now crossed the border of ridiculous. So, against my will, kicking and screaming as I come, I must speak on a bit of controversy that has risen from the ashes of last Saturday’s Kaua’i Interscholastic Federation championship soccer game.
The controversy circles this matter: Was the lone goal of the game, the score that sent Kapa’a to the state championship, netted by Warrior Colby Ayonon or was it — more tragically — punched across the plane via a Kaua’i player (an own goal)?
The Garden Island reported in last Sunday’s edition that Ayonon managed to get some body part on the ball, sending it past Kaua’i goalie Matt Fujikawa. Unfortunately, I had to rely on eyes other than my own to supplement my perception. The consensus among the fans closest to the action, as well as all of the players and coaches for Kapa’a (admittedly a bit biased) was that Ayonon had scored.
The Kaua’i staff took the position that the ball had been pushed in by one of their own — though this was not made very clear to me. Regardless, I leaned the direction of my most educated hunch based on what I’d seen and heard.
Understand, the controversy surrounds not whether the goal actually was scored or if it should have counted, but whom was responsible.
Since Sunday, I’ve been flooded with calls and inquiries into the matter. Both Honolulu papers have telephoned; the Advertiser rang twice because it had been called by a member of each school’s entourage.
Nothing in this business of journalism is more important than fact. Sometimes we get things wrong because, well, we are human. Sometimes we get things wrong because despite endless digging, people withhold information.
ESPN was not at the field Sunday. If it had been, perhaps one of the 10 cameras they use to bring sporting events into your living room would have picked up every movement that unfolded during the lone goal. Perhaps we could have run to the scorer’s table for endless replays in an effort to see what happened.
But none of those tools were in place. So, if you were sitting in the stands or even standing on the field, nailing down exactly what occurred in the cluster of eight ferocious boys was rendered nearly impossible.
That said, I’m now going to be very raw, because, against my will, I’ve been dragged to this.
Who cares how the goal was scored?
If, indeed, Ayonon did manage to emerge from the mess having scored the goal, good for him. May he and his family enjoy that all the days of their lives. Honestly, nobody on the Kapa’a sideline but the immediate party involved — the Ayonons — will even remember Colby scored by the time the state tournament starts. It wasn’t as though he blasted one from 35 yards out; there was no drama.
Now, here’s the more perplexing matter. Why does the Kaua’i camp keep bringing this up? This leaves me completely baffled.
Let’s say the reports were incorrect, and, in fact, it was an own goal. Is that really something you want highlighted in the form of a newspaper correction? Do you want to draw significant attention to the fact that, instead of being scored on, one Red Raider pulled a Hamlet — eliminating himself and his “family members” in their collective effort to achieve a berth in the state tournament? Is it fair to do that to the Kaua’i player whose chest may have sent his team home for the summer?
I don’t understand why sleeping dogs were not left to lie.
Sunday’s game really was marvelous. Hearts and souls were left on the field at Hanapepe Stadium by both teams. Kapa’a and Kaua’i each had multiple chances to put more goals on the board, but outstanding defense and goalie play prevented that.
And now a senseless controversy has tainted the game’s beauty and the players’ efforts.
Sports editor Jason Gallic at 245-3681 or mailto:kauaisports@pulitzer.net
