VIEW POINT: The Nigerian Market Place

I recently watched an American football game in a large stadium filled with sport loving Americans. The excitement and passion I saw on everyone’s face strained me in trying to understand the game. The referee blew his whistle almost every 10 seconds. Either a rough tackle or some other fouls had been committed. I wondered how Americans enjoyed the game with all the regular stops. Even though I didn’t enjoy the game because I couldn’t understand the rules on a short time, the American unifying strength I observed during the game unexpectedly entertained me. I began to wonder if these weren’t the individualist Americans. The serious minded people I would see in the street and that cared about pursuing personal goals. At the field of play, they were collective for fun and to win. My American friend that invited me paid for my bottles of beer at the pub. His team won, I know. On usual days, we must individually pay for our beers. I later explained to him about the different Americans I saw during the match. His answers marveled me and there I began my thoughtful journey back to Nigeria. ‘The American football is a unifying metaphor in America. It unites all kinds of America no matter your individual pursuit or achievement,’ he said. 


I began to think of Nigeria, the country I grew up loving. What would I call the Nigerian metaphor? Ask any Nigeria this question; her/his answer would quickly be ‘soccer’. I can’t forget the lovely Nigerian people on the day we won the Olympic gold in Atlanta. People, who weren’t interested in the soccer game, couldn’t overlook the celebration of Atlanta 1996. But in determining a metaphor for a country, I would credit football to the British who brought the game to us. Football has a long tradition in Europe. Football has a long tradition in Europe. It is more than a century old in the European continent. In the European history, the game brought the idea of a friendly travel from one location to another. Even till today, football clubs and their fans travel from one city or country to another. Is that travelling passion for sports present in Nigeria? My answer will be ‘no’. READ MORE


Photo originally uploaded by Alun John