Ola Brasil!

Every four years, the 'rest of the world' stand still at this time of the year. Businesses slow down a bit. Market women hang aloof as they can't comprehend the hype behind the period. Find your way into Ariaria market in Aba, Tejuosho market in Lagos or Ogbete market in Enugu, you find many world cup analysts. Leaving their shops unattended to, they gather in front of the shop of the most fanatic of them, pull of their shirts,exposing either an acutely hairy,protruding stomach or a saggy singlet that used to be white . That is where you hear all sorts of things about the players. How one witch in Germany is responsible for some players injury; how one native doctor from Ghana said he is behind Ronaldo's injury; how some players are actually from Congo or Nigeria and not from the countries they are lining up for. Very funny stories. But I tell you, that is what makes the world cup what it is; beautiful.
   During this period, I deliberately look outside the window to see if people are going about their businesses as usual. I see a couple of them and then I wonder to myself, "are these guys human beings?" World cup period is NOT business as usual! It's more than that. Omo...its the world cup! It happens once every four years. This period, wives will see less of their husbands, girlfriends will cry for their boyfriends attention, kids will sacrifice their cartoon channels for Super sports. Men will eat less and drink more. Football and Campari is one of the best combinations you will ever find...Lol...
   The next one month is going to be eventful. For the decades I have spent on earth, the world cup period has been my happiest. The hype is everywhere in Nigeria. Nigerians and football! We love the game to a fault. We drink, eat and sleep football. It's in the DNA of every Nigerian. We have kept loving the game despite the way NFF have kept messing with our heads over the years. Yes. Our faith in the game is that large. We have waited for the world cup. We have been waiting for four years. Those years seemed to us like an eternity. Those years between the World Cup in South Africa, 2010 and today must have been one thousand years! But then...the wait is over. It's today!
   To every Nigerian,African and indeed, every human and even aliens, Happy World Cup. Ola Brasil!