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For The Love Of The Game By Uche Nworah
Football is a passionate game, for some die-hard fans it has become their religion, they eat, sleep and worship the beautiful game. Many have built shrines in their homes dedicated to their favourite teams. Football and emotions go together, the combination is a dangerous, bitter-sweet cocktail, depending on whether your team is winning or loosing.
Stories abound of fully grown men being reduced to tears when their favourite teams suffer defeats or crash out of football tournaments, the extreme ones have been known to turn their anger and rage on their wives, turning them into punching bags, while using their kids to practice penalty kicks. During a previous world cup tournament, a football fan was reported to have thrown his wife out of the window for interfering during a game.
The day after Nigeria lost to Italy in the knockout stages of USA 94, Nigerians took to the streets in Lagos and in some other parts of the country, and continued their Pro-Abiola/Anti-Abacha demonstrations; all fronts had been quiet while Nigeria was still in the tournament. Too bad for Obasanjo that Nigeria did not qualify for Germany 2006, at least the euphoria would have kept the masses busy, while he perfected his 3rd term plans, imagine what would have happened if Nigeria did qualify and goes on to win the world. Anyway the football sadness and joy story continues.
That Nigeria is not going to the world cup next year is no longer news, tons of articles have also been written as to what caused our qualification mis-adventure, as well as on the way forward for Nigerian football, a summary analysis however puts the blame on the doorstep of the Nigerian Football Association (NFA), to say that they have no clue about 21st century football administration will be stating the obvious.
I grieved when it became obvious that the Super Eagles will not be playing in Germany in 2006, my grief however lasted only a few days and life for me has since returned to normal, because my team (Chelsea FC) is doing well in the Premiership, and in the Champions league, I can’t be bothered for now.
This brings me to the name calling and labelling of we ‘later day’ Chelsea FC converts and supporters as traitors and sell-outs by fans of Arsenal FC. I am proud to say that we are not traitors, neither have we betrayed the cause.
Personally, I have never been passionate about any Premiership football club, patriotism had dictated my choice in the past as my loyalty and support shifted constantly amongst clubs that fielded Nigerian players, hence I have severally supported Arsenal FC and West Bromwich Albion because of Kanu Nwankwo, Chelsea FC and Newcastle United because of Celestine Babayaro, Middlesbrough FC and Portsmouth FC because of Yakubu Aiyegbene and Bolton Wanderers FC because of Jay-Jay Okocha.
However, the arrival of Jose Mourinho at Chelsea last season transformed me from a baseline ‘ashawo’ fan into a staunch supporter. Chelsea FC is now my team; many football fans have also transferred their followership to Chelsea, thus attracting criticisms from other supporters who allege that we are football traitors.
It is necessary to clarify what the main grouse is here; Arsenal FC has always been the favourite team of immigrants in the UK, especially Nigerians. Kanu Nwankwo helped to seal this adoption when he signed for Arsenal, Arsene Wenger also helped in extending the adoption further, because of the number of black players he has signed since his managerial tenure. At any point on the pitch, you will likely find at least 5 black players wearing Arsenal shirts. For this reason, immigrant football fans have transferred what is happening in the ‘white’ British society to the football field; and so can not understand why other immigrants will support any other team.
To justify our ‘defection’, it is important to state that we are not only following Roman Abramovich’s money but also the winning mentality of the coach (Jose Mourinho), who together with his employer has shown that even as an ‘outsider’ in a traditional English society, and despite the knocks and snobbery from the British press, you can actually get to the top. Chelsea players and their fans are now getting used to such knocks, but the motto of the South London - based Millwall FC (No one likes us, and we don’t care) comes to mind here and may just be a suitable defence line for the increasing number of Chelsea fans.
Although he has repeatedly said it himself, that he is a ‘special one’, but why is Jose Mourinho special? Is there any lesson other mortals can learn from him?
The man is passionate about his sport, this is self-evident in his several match day antics, he has a tight rein on his foot soldiers (players) and demands 100% on and off the pitch, making him a great manager of human potentials. He is also self-assured and confident in an arrogant manner; he doesn’t give in too easily to ‘bullying’, a pre-match mind game and tactics perfected by the masters, including Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger. Mourinho however has shown the two that he is no ‘small boy’. His recent verbal war with Arsene Wenger early this season has stretched his reputation even further. UEFA too has come under Mourinho’s vitriolic attacks; they in turn have branded Mourinho an ‘enemy of football’ in the aftermath of the Chesea/Barcelona incident in last year’s Champion’s league.
One thing is sure, there is now the Mourinho factor in English football, a different kind of freshness in English football and a winning mentality all ‘outsiders’ can easily buy into, made more appealing with the special one’s brashness and arrogance. It is difficult not to notice that this has worked for the coach, the owner, the players and the fans. Chelsea FC is currently perched solidly on top of the Premiership table, and has also qualified for the next round of the Champions league.
The football power house, once dominated by the Manchester United FCs, Liverpool FCs and Arsenal FCs has now been broken, a new domineering force is gradually emerging and with Abramovich’s millions (which does not seem to be drying up any time soon), backing the team all the way, there doesn’t seem to be a reversal or derailment in the horizon.
Go on Chelsea!
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