Monday, 9th June 2008
Poles apart
Sunday was a bitter-sweet day for Poles around the world. I happen to have a first-hand experience of what it means to be Polish living abroad. They tend to be very tied to their country. The nation’s history contributed towards this level of patriotism.
Yesterday was a particular day for two very particular people; Robert Kubica and Lukas Podolski.
Robert Kubica made history by becoming the first Pole to ever win a Formula 1 race. His win in Canada also placed him at the top of the driver’s championship. Kubica started off in cartingand in 2006 became the official third/test driver for the BMW Sauber Formula One team. He eventually replaced Jacques Villeneuve as a regular driver.
Ironically his victory yesterday came on the same track where he last year suffered a horrific accident. That is the irony of life and of sports.
Lukas Podolski was born on June 4, 1985 in Gliwice, Upper Silesia, Poland. His actual Polish name is Łukasz. His father used to play in the Polish National football team. Lukas could have done the same in 2003 had the Polish national team coach of the time heeded what the Polish media was telling him.
However the coach said that Poland had better strikers. German coach Rudi Voeller had a different opinion. In fact, he called him to represent Germany.Podolski had moved to Germany and is now a German national.
The 23 year old has become a regular player in the German National team and in the match against Poland, he earned his 50th cap. The Poles might have been angry for this ‘traitor’ who helped Germany win against his ‘own’ country. However it seems that the only one to blame Pawel Janas, who in 2004 ruled out Podolski’s chances to represent his team.
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