Watching or engaging in football, for some citizens of Africa, is like a medicinal remedy for most of their troubled situations, basically what I’m trying to say here is that football acts as a 'temporary fix' away from the daily stress or other stress related problems for most Africans (especially in Nigeria, 'cos I’m more familiar with life here than other African countries), it is just like when you take a panadol or aspirin for a temporary headache. Football has this feel 'good factor' effect on most football lovers and Nigeria people are no exception. I have been fortunate, on many occasions, to have sat amongst group of football fans discussing and displaying our well educated knowledge of foreign football teams like Chelsea, Arsenal, Man.U e.t.c but showing little knowledge of our very own football premier league teams (like Kwara FC, Eyimba FC or Shooting Stars FC), the reason for this is purely for the excitement and entertainment the foreign football brings to the table and to the hearts of Nigerian football fans, who temporarily forget their problems to embrace the togetherness and enduring palpitating hearts with the adrenaline oozing- ooohs & aaahs which are brought on by the unexpected and unpredictable display of skills & techniques from players of both teams on show.
One of the questions i often ask during these unplanned discussions is 'why is there no serious embrace for Nigerian premier league football teams'? Well the answer is in my head but just to hear the views of my fellow football fans will enlighten me more about some of the problems the NFF is facing in trying to promote and sell our football league to its local footy fan base. One of the reasons mentioned points to the fact there is no excitement watching a Nigerian premier league team unless you want to double your stress level and take the annoyance on anyone nearby as if to blame them for the 'horror movie' you have just watched in the Nigeria PL.
Nigerian football can be exciting if the right structures are in place, I will like to mention, I coach youth football/soccer, and i can say that in all my visits to various playing fields in the Lagos area I have met many young talented footballers out there with little or no opportunities for them to realise their potentials and exhibit their talents beyond the sandy & dilapidated playing fields they are fortunate to play on.
Surely all these negative attributes could and can be eradicated to help Nigeria football & sports thrive, if the governments (both local & national) will collaborate to build football & sports facilities in schools to encourage youth participations...
Well, i know there are many of you who have opinions about what should be done to help build sustainable football & sports facilities in our local communities, so join in with your comments.
Post by Samuel O-Thomas
