Prior to the 2006 World Cup, Luiz Suarez, the manager of Ecuador, told his players a story.
During their travels, a master and his servant came upon a shack and a cow. The inhabitants invited them in and treated them to a wonderful meal and an excellent night of sleep. The master asked how such a poor family could offer such wonderful hospitality, to which they replied that their cow provided all that they needed through its milk and the beef and hides from its calves. Upon leaving, the master instructed his servant to return to the shack to kill the cow. The servant did so, but with great guilt. Many years later he returned to the shack to find out what became of the poor family. The shack was gone and in its place stood a beautiful mansion, surrounded by magnificent gardens. When the servant knocked on the door to ask what became of the family, he was amazed to find that they lived in the mansion. How can this be, he asked. Many years earlier, they explained, they had lived in poverty with only a single cow to provide for their needs. As luck would have it, the cow had died in mysterious circumstances, compelling them to take a new path in their lives – a path that led to fame and fortune.
At the end of the story, Luis Suarez said to his players: “Gentlemen, we are going to play in the World Cup, it is time to kill your cows.” Ecuador went further in the 2006 tournament than ever before in their history.
To our students: You are attending the Central Coast Sports College, it is time to kill your cows!
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