There is a tendency to think professional sportspeople are impervious to the pressures of modern life.
But it is wrong to think that because all they have to do is kick, hit or shoot a ball for a living, it automatically means they live a carefree life.
Take Gui Finkler for instance. He arrived at the Wellington Phoenix in June last year with the aim of propelling the team into top-four contention.
His pregnant wife, Karine, joined him later and he started the first five games of the season. The results weren’t great, but at least things were OK off the field.
Wellington Phoenix midfielder talks about the birth of his first daughter and the effect of the Kaikoura earthquake on his family.
Then came November 14, when the Kaikoura earthquake shook not just the ground below Wellington, but the nerve of many of its inhabitants.
As Finkler explains, it rattled his family to the point where the decision was made for Karine to return to Brazil for the remainder of the pregnancy.
“When it happened that day it was scary, after a week we talked a lot about it. I went to the club and talked with them with my wife and the club let me make a decision.
“It wasn’t easy to make the decision I was really gutted at that time that she was going, but at the same time I was happy she would be safe and have my family over there and her mum and dad.”
It left Finkler alone in Wellington. Roly Bonevacia was in the same boat, with his wife and two kids moving to Sydney after the quake.
Finkler missed the team’s match against Perth Glory on January 5 to return home to Brazil, which was as much for his own wellbeing as to support Karine.
Rafaela was born early on February 8, with Finkler missing two more games on paternity leave. It wasn’t easy getting on the plane to come back to Wellington.
“Oh yes, I think everyone knows when the little one is there it’s hard to say goodbye, but it was our decision to have the birth in Brazil and this was going to happen sooner or later, so they totally understand.”
He said having a wife as supportive as Karine made coming back a bit easier.
“We’ve been together for so long, it’s a special moment, we want to be together, we want to share every second, but it’s part of my life.
“Even if she was here I would have been away for a week in Auckland, now I’m going to Sydney next week, so I wouldn’t be here the whole time.
“Now it’s just a little bit longer that we won’t spend together, but she understands completely, that’s my wife, she really understands the way it is, my life.”
Finkler scored the first goal in the team’s 3-3 draw with Perth in Auckland on Saturday, wheeling away to perform one of the classic football celebrations when there has been a birth in a family of sucking on his thumb.
It was a special moment for the 31-year-old.
“It’s something special in our lives so every time I can show the love I have for her I will. I’m just disappointed we couldn’t get the three points in the end, but I think the boys did a good job and Perth is a good team.”
And there it is. Even through all the stress of the last four months, Finkler’s thoughts were as much on his team as they were on his family.
-Stuff
