FOOTBALL is a popular phenomenon that transcends the playing field to a space for expressing social identities, values and opinions. It also discusses the connection between football and social media activism. If you want to know what is happening in the society, you need to be in a viewing centre. Right there, you will discover that football can reflect conflicts not only among clubs but among the societies. The leisure activity becomes a source of belonging and identity.
Fans often forgets the problem outside and discusses current trend depending on the side you belong. They tell you as if they hold meetings with the President or the governor everyday. If you want to know the real owner of the almost 800 duplexes just confiscated in Abuja and other trending issues, visit a football viewing centre.
Where is Ajaero, where is Macdemott and what of Elizabeth. Organiser, how come you did not start early. How many matches are we watching today? Nigeria no go win. Eguavon na bad luck Coach. Osimhen is caused. God nain dey punish am. Lookman don join the list of bad players. Osimhen dey influence am. Too much money dey worry them. Wetin you want make Ronaldo say. Person wen go fit feed the whole state. Messi get money pass am. Una talk don do. Make we watch match make we dey go. How much them dey sell fuel now. Some dey sell for 1200. Noo, Sun oil dey sell for 1000. That of Harmattan Oil nain worse. That one dey craze. Na 1400 per litre. Only God go save us. Me I no vote for the man oo. Who vote for am before. The man don talk am say na only him.know how he tey win. Haa..we go suffer for another 8 years. The man na mafia. If he fit win when he no dey power who go stop am.
A goooaalllll!!! Lookman don score. I talk am. Una wey dry abuse am. Heeeeee, Osimhen don score. Shame on detractors. Nobody can stop Osimhen. Omo Ajegunle. Finidi no go fit stop am. Lookman na the next African Footballer of the year. Osimhen win am last year, Lookman this year. It is over.
Discussion shifts. All these NEPA people don seize light. My phone don off. I no even get water for house. This life na wa. It is a free world where no arrest is made for defamation.
The above is simply a reflection of what is going on in the country. According to late Fela Anikulapo Kuti, suffering and smiling.
In the last one week, Guinea, a country that has been trending with a man who slept with over 400 women was in the news again when a wrong decision by a referee ignited protest which led to the death of 135 people with many missing.
In our own Country, players of Elkanemi Warriors travelling around 2am were attacked by the men of underworld.
Back to Guinea it was reported that some 135 people were killed in a crush at a soccer stadium in Southeast Guinea last Sunday.
A controversial refereeing decision sparked crowd violence and tear gas volleys from police during the match in the town of Nzerekore, leading to a deadly scrum as spectators tried to flee.
A collective of human rights group blamed the security forces for using excessive tear gas and prioritising the protection of officials and spectators.
The Police whom are often referred to as our friends are the same in Africa except some few countries like South Africa, Tunisia and Morocco. In Nigeria and countries like Guinea, they are worse. They behave as if they are under the influence of alcohol.
The organisers of the event honouring a dictator should have buried their head in shame. It shows that they have not been trained on how to manage crowd control, one essential thing that is missing. Perhaps in an era where merits is sacrificed, one should always pray against the worst.
But take it from me, due to the passion and the fact that football is the only thing that brings joy to them now, you will always see Fans in any match venue .
Football culture serves as a universal language that brings together people from diverse backgrounds. Regardless of nationality, ethnicity or language, the love for the game fosters a sense of unity and shared identity among Fans worldwide.
Football Fans play a pivotal role in preserving the sports rich heritage and traditions. Therefore, they must be well protected. They chant songs, anthems passed down through generations to upholding customs and rituals associated with matchdays. They serve as custodians of football history.
Often, fans believe they are the team and that the players are on the field to represent them. Hence, you see a fan claiming to belong to a team he has not met one on one as his own. Some adore the colour and argue vehemently as if he owns the club. Effectively, the team has been internalised as a part of their self. This is the ultimate form of loyalty which can never been found in any other endeavour..
As a result, government or those saddled with management of Sports must see fans as an essential component that must be protected. They should train their stewards on crowd control and only those well trained in the act, including the police should be present at match venues. A situation where match venues are turned to slaughter ground should be discouraged. May the soul of those who died in Guinea and other places rest in peace.
