The general elections in Nigeria is gradually winding down. Normalcy is returning to the streets of the country. We are beginning to have our football back. A lot of us 'abandoned' the game, as expected, to perform our civil duties and vote in the next government. It is alleged that some youths died, during the electoral process. May their souls find rest.
I don't blog mainstream politics. I treat it like leprosy on my blog. Therefore this particular blog, though may seem political, is not.
When Dr. Orji Uzo Kalu was campaigning for the Presidency in 2007, he used 'his football achievements' as Abia State governor as campaign points. Enyimba FC of Aba were back to back CAF Champions few years before then. To the football community, his point was valid. I know how as state governor, he engineered Enyimba's success, locally and on the continent. This past election, no politician had any football or sports campaign point. The best we saw was a particular contestant who seemed to make it a point of duty to visit children playing football on the streets of his town kumm,donning his very fake Ariaria sewn Adidas track suit. He had the guts to take pictures with the kids who were dressed in tattered shirts and shorts. He met those kids like that, how did he leave them? Still tattered?
Nigeria's performance on the continent, club wise, have been rubbish for more than a decade. Corruption, unpreparedness, non payment of players salaries/allowances and some other una-no-dey-fear-God reasons form the basis of why we have been the cow dung of African football on club level. The drama in Rivers State last year where players of Dolphins, Sharks and Rivers Angels slept in front of the state government house in protest is still fresh in our minds. Terrible drama. I am sure developed countries will look at happenings in our football and wonder which cartoon adults are acting out. From the NFF Presidency issue, to players sleeping in front of government house to other comic issues, Nigerian football is one house of commotion.
Some states don't have half standard football stadium. Their teams therefore use stadium in another state as home ground. How can you be at home in another person's home? Let's look at Lagos State. I don't think that any other city state in the world have the number of football fanatics found in Lagos. The state is a football crazy state. But since the demise of Nigerdock and demotion of Julius Berger FC, no professional team is in town. Not an issue? Well, my opinion is that it is. Lagos is widely viewed as the football capital of Nigeria but it doesn't have a Premier League club. It's an issue. Think of the extra revenues a Premier League club will bring Into the state. Or is it the temporary jobs that will be created? No. Our politicians don't think towards that direction. I believe Lagos State need a Premier League team.
Bayelsa State is blessed with abundant footballers. Talents abound on mainland and in the creeks. As at beginning of last season, the state had two teams campaigning in the Glo Premier League; Nembe City and Bayelsa United. Because of the state of the Samson Siasia Stadium, Nembe City played all the games that led to their eventual relegation at Omokhu Stadium while Bayelsa United played in Benin. I am not a Prophet but I said at the beginning of that season that one of the teams, if not both, will be relegated at the end of the season. It's not rocket science. If e no be your home e no be your own. Till date, the Samson Siasia stadium in Yenagoa remains a flat surface of concrete and can't be played on. Not even by animals.
If only these politicians know that football can be used as an electioneering tool, they will develop it at all levels. Football is a sure method of empowerment. Go through the annals of football history and check this fact; football have not produced a son or daughter of a contemporary and mega rich footballer as a successful footballer too. No be juju. It's simple; football is an avenue created to help families out of poverty. Once out of it, none of the direct offspring get back actively playing. The best they get into is football business. That said, Is it not obvious that encouragement of football can be infused into the sing song empowerment programmes we hear about year by year?
We hope the incoming government will outperform the ongoing and incumbent in terms of football and sports encouragement. We hope for when a politician will storm a full capacity stadium in Nigeria to canvass for votes. Truth is that any politician loved by the football community in Nigeria have bought an election winning majority. You can only argue this with the keyboard of your device.
We pray the incoming government to better football infrastructure nationwide. Bring up and implement policies that will lure Nigerians to the stadium every weekend to to watch a Glo Premier League game. God bless Nigeria.
Photo credit; unknown, but not mine.
Follow Ikenna Enenta on twitter; @ikenna005
