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"Kefi" kicks in for Toronto FC

May 27, 2009 02:24 AM | Posted by   Nigel Reed  

Conversations with my mother-in-law are generally brief and to the point. There is a reason for this, but before you jump to the conclusion that she's an interfering old battle axe whom I tolerate for the sake of family unity – think again.

In fact, she neither interferes nor demands anything from me, other than to be a loyal husband to her eldest daughter.

Only my wife could tell you how I'm doing in that department.

Indeed, I would go as far as to say I would relish a lengthy and meaningful chat with my mother-in-law, but I can't see it happening anytime soon – she doesn't speak much English and I speak even less Greek.

Despite the language challenges, she's managed to live and prosper in Montreal for more than 40 years and, for that, deserves enormous credit.

The language barrier between us can sometimes cause confusion. For example, she knows I'm old-school when it comes to the festive season and will only buy cards which contain the phrase, Merry Christmas. The advent of political correctness means these cards are increasingly difficult to find, but it's always been Christmas to me and, without apology, always will be.

Aware of my stance of this issue, my mother-in-law bought me a card last December which joyfully wished me a Merry Christmas. Unfortunately, she wasn't to know the full text of the message: "Merry Christmas...To My Sweetheart" was not entirely appropriate! However, her pigeon English still beats my virtually non-existent command of her mother tongue.

Until today, I knew precisely four Greek words – when, quite by chance, I stumbled across a fifth. I rang my wife at the office to try it out.

"How's your kefi?" I inquired. "It's great thank you," she replied, immediately followed by: "and where did you learn THAT word?"

Kefi, with apologies to my Greek readers for whom this is elementary, can be roughly translated as 'mojo' – that indefinable quality we all possess which helps us to enjoy life by seizing the moment and winning the day with a smile and an inner strength that sometimes surprises us.

Since the weekend, I've been wondering how to sum up Toronto FC's first-ever win over New England. Perhaps 'kefi' was what was needed and what was found in the heat of battle at BMO Field.

It is becoming evident there is a resilience about this team which I did not see in the expansion year and only fleetingly last season. In all truth, Toronto should have beaten a weakened Revolution outfit, but the way they responded to giving up a sloppy first goal is what should give us all guarded optimism for the future.

Once the kefi kicked in, there was only ever going to be one winner, but there is still much to do. It was clearly absent against Chicago, but it has often been said the mark of a good team is how it responds to a defeat. The trick now is to pack the resulting momentum into the kit-bag and make sure it's not left in the locker room at Houston on Saturday night.

Amado Guevara can look forward to a team-talk in Spanish following his MLS player of the week performance, Dwayne De Rosario and Adrian Serioux can savour a duel with former teammates, Danny Dichio can enjoy the plaudits after underscoring his on-going value to the franchise and Chad Barrett can breathe a little easier with the critics off his back.

Of course, there is no great mystery here. If we enjoy what we do, we're likely to do it better and soccer players are no different. I've spoken to many former players who echo the sentiment – if the kefi is working, anything is achievable.

Well, almost anything, since interim head coach Chris Cummins knows uncertain waters lie ahead. After Houston, he'll lose Guevara and Marvell Wynne to World Cup qualifiers and who knows the toll the Gold Cup will take in terms of personnel come July. The disruption may not be fair, but the reality will soon be here and Cummins and his staff must be prepared for possible damage limitation.

Meantime, my kefi is clearing working – my wife's just called me back to inform me she's taking me out to dinner less than a day after I birdied the long 13th at Ballantrae. But that's another story...

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