Yum Cha Chats with SAMA': The most impressive football goals of all time

Sunday’s are hard but can be made easier with unexpected delights — so here’s some fluff to get you through it. Inspired by a recent jaunt for dim sum with Miss Yellow in Hong Kong, allow us to deliver a new edition of Yum Cha Chats — which means let’s go eat dim sum and drink tea in Cantonese. The series will dig into the obscure and tasty 'fillings' you never knew about your favourite DJs and have nothing to do with music — every Sunday. Best enjoyed from bed…

Sama Abdulhadi, formerly known as Skywalker, needs little introduction. Widely known as the first female Palestinian DJ, SAMA' succeeded at spreading the vibes of Ramallah through techno. You may have heard her on Boiler Room in 2018, a show that which exceeded the four million views now. Or you may have followed her as she slayed festival and gigs across the whole world. Either way, she's become a key figure in electronic music today, and with good reason.

But beyond music, the DJ is also a sound engineer, music producer, audio trainer, sound designer, and an excellent football player. SAMA’ was a member of the very first Palestinian national female football team. “If I didn’t become a DJ, I would have become a professional football player. I don’t know what’s worse for my parents” she told us. And to show how passionate she is, SAMA’ shared with us her six favourite football goals of the last three decades. Ready for some action?

“This goal and this player are the reasons why I played left-wing position in football, and why I love shooting free kicks. I think I was seven years old when I watched that game. It was one of the first I have ever seen in my life. I love it because of the technics. The ball curving completely out of the field, and come back into the goal unexpectedly. The goalkeeper Fabien Barthez didn’t even move because he thought the ball was out. I think my favourite thing about this video is the look on his face!!’

“I hated France so much for winning the 1998 World Cup, I was so sad for Brazil… And since I hated France, by default I hated Zinédine Zidane. But he joined the Real Madrid, that I was closely following since Roberto Carlos was already playing. I hated the idea, but then the champions league finale against Bayer Leverkusen arrived, and everything changed. Roberto Carlos crosses the ball without even looking at it, and it falls on Zidane scores with a volley shot… That is the day I fell in love with the man.”

“Since we are diving in the past, let’s continue with another magical goal. I used to play it on replay as a kid: it’s the goal that made David Beckham one of the greatest players in history. I mean, he was so young, he took the ball in midfield, and right before the middle line, he shot and scores. HALF FIELD, ok??”

“It’s impossible to choose one specific goal for him, but he’s one of my favourite player: Taekwondo Ibrahimovic. For those who don’t know him, Zlatan Ibrahimovic is a 2 meter Swedish man with a black belt in taekwondo and also a guy who’s a football master. He uses the side, the front, the back, behind his foot without even looking. He is insane. One of my favourite game is he played with Sweden against Britain. He did a mental double kick that you will also find in this video, sadly I think it is the last one but he is a crazy very entertaining dude. Watch this beauty.”

“And finally, we’re going to talk about one of my favourite current player: Gareth Bale. I have been trying to decide on which goal to put. But I am so indecisive that I decided to put both. The first is in the champions league finale against Liverpool. A bit like in Zidane’s goal in 2002 against Bayer Leverkusen, Gareth Bale double kicks it into the net. It was the third champions league title, a record that has never been broken AND WILL NEVER BE (proper Madrid fan)."

“The other goal that I can’t not mention for Bale is the time he destroyed Barcelona in the Copa del Rey finale. (Told you proper Madridista). We were in a 1-1 tie, right before the end of the game. Coentrao gives the ball to bale and the rugby monster in him comes out. The speed and the strength on that man are incredible. He passes the ball forward, the Barcelona player tries to push him out of the field, but the monster keeps running and not just that, he outruns him, takes the ball, and puts it in between the legs of the goal keeper!! In the Arab world everyone cheers for either Madrid or Barcelona, so you had to see me standing on the table celebrating to understand its importance!!”