Patriotism In Nigerian Football
Looking at what is happening all over Africa, I can boldly say Africans have suddenly realized who they are and have decided to take back all that was stolen from them.
I have always said this when I see people claiming to be patriotic; patriotism is not about bringing people out of their homes to carry placards on the streets of Lagos and Abuja. Patriotism is not about making noise and arranging for interviews on all television stations. Patriotism is not about engaging a good media consultant to manage your image and sell you to the public.
There is so much more to it. True patriotism is about you as a person and what you really feel within. When I did the first part of this article last week, some readers reacted negatively when I talked about some civil groups. Just three days after the article, my words came to pass. Guys, there is nothing like genuine activism in Nigeria since the death of Chief Gani Fawehnmi.
The sooner we stopped listening to all those so called activists who either are looking for political relevance or money to feed their families, the better for us. Have you ever wondered where those activists are coming from? How many of them had something doing before coming to limelight? Guys, check the background of these ones and you will find out that activism remain their only means of livelihood. All they do is blackmail government through the masses; get the money they need from the back and then go home thinking of another issue to bring up when the money begins to run down. The few that have something doing are selfishly looking for something in/from government.
That is not what we are talking about today. I want to look at this issue of patriotism from a different angle-football.
The game of football happens to be the most powerful in the word. Isn’t it surprising what that little round leather can do? I have seen couples and friends unite after a big disagreement just because of a football match. Tribalism in Nigeria is forgotten once the game of football starts. In politics, everyone defends his tribe, but it is only in the game of football you see a Yoruba man support a man from the northern part of the country. I can say that football has been and still is the greatest agent of unity and peace in the world.
Men are not the only lovers of football. I have seen women and children who are die-hard football fans. I used to be one of such people years back when I found myself spending as much as #16,000 just to be identified as a supporter of Chelsea Football Club. I am still a big fan of Didier Drogba and Jay-Jay Okocha.
Yes I used to be excited watching our own Super Eagles play, but that was during the time of Yekini, Iroha, Amunike, Amokachi, and several others. My God, it was fun all the way in Atlanta 96.But with the exit of that particular set of players came so many who were more interested in the money than the name. The NFF has also succeeded in turning the Super Eagles to Super Chickens just because of politics and money.
I know we have not been given any good reason to love Nigerian football since after Olympics 96, but the fact still remains that we must be patriotic enough to celebrate our local players.
We all have different clubs we support in Europe. I have a friend who is a die-hard fan of Arsenal. This guy is ready to beat his children and fight friends just because they said something against Arsenal. His wife told me how he has turned his bedroom to an Arsenal boutique. According to her, everything, including rug and bed sheets are Arsenal.
Another friend of mine,a regional bank manager happens to be a Manchester United Fan. He has reached that point where he exchanged words on the road with a street hawker just because the boy came to sell Chelsea items to him. He took it and instead of paying the boy, threw the item on the ground.
Beer parlours and hotels are always hopeful of good sales once the UEFA or Champions League starts. Why then is it different when we have our own team playing?
We go abroad buying these things to promote other nations while our teams are forgotten. I was so impressed the day I asked a friend why he always wear green and white. He said he has never worn anything with the flag of another nation. According to him, Nigeria is the only country he belongs to.
I was in South Africa recently and I noticed that a particular Nigerian whose vehicle we took out had Ghanaian flag in his car while he wore a South African tracksuit. I tried to ignore him since I am not close to him. But after some time, I decided to comment on that. They started talking about the kind of treatment Nigerians get from other countries. They apportioned the whole blame on our corrupt leaders.
It is no longer news that our leaders are very corrupt, but Nigeria will ever remain what we want it to be. I told them that we, the citizens of this country are also guilty. I then called his attention to the things he had around him and told him there is nothing to show he is Nigerian.
We see Europeans go out of their ways to make sacrifices for their players. But recently, one of our best players in the main Super Eagles died like a fowl in the USA and nobody cares. I am not even surprised because what we have now as NFF is nothing but a gathering of looters representing their different constituencies and god-fathers.
At different times, I have seen Nigerians fight and injure themselves because of European football clubs. I even heard about a Nigerian business man buying some shares in a club over there. I know it is business, but the question is; how much has he invested in our local clubs to make them better?
Today we are celebrating European clubs. I remember America was nowhere in football years back and we all used to laugh at them when they play. But what happened recently? Americans,being what they are, people deeply in love with their nation, decided to have a name in football. Right now, the American national team is far better than our present Super Eagles. They didn’t do it overnight. It took years of celebrating people and putting extra energy, time, and resources before they could get to where we see them now.
Guys, I know it would be a very difficult thing to do. I am not saying you should throw away the lovely club items around you. You don’t have to stop your planned trip to watch the finals. What I am saying is that a percentage of that love and passion should be given to Nigerian football.
We need to stop wearing all those t-shirts with American and British flags. I don’t know how you feel, but I can’t feel comfortable wearing the flag of another country on my body while they match that of my own country. I love red when it is very bright. I got into a shop around Opebi and immediately got attracted to one beautiful t-shirt on the rack. The sales girls knowing I love t-shirts brought it out for me. I was happy at first, but couldn’t take it after all because it had the flag of another country on it.
Why are we so ashamed of our country? Is it not time we arise and stop all the ill treatments we receive from them because of the sins of our corrupt leaders? Whenever I travel out of the country, I have always refused to be treated like every other Nigerian at the airports. You should always stand up for your rights.
I know that so many people will never agree to this because of the kind of leaders we have, both past and present. But it is time we grow pass the level of our leaders. We should grow pass the level of local politics and come together to celebrate our own football. Let the Green White Green fly.
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