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By Toyin | June 11, 2008
What is it about this game that makes it so engrossing (Barcelona Vs Real Madrid –El Classico: all the years past), time consuming (Chelsea Vs Man U-UEFA Champions League final 2008), emotion drenching (Getafe Vs Bayern Munchen –UEFA Cup Quarter final 2008), hypertension inducing (Nigeria Vs Cameroun- Nations Cup final 2000), death occurring (Columbia Vs USA- World Cup 1994), muscle flexing (Arsenal Vs Fernabache –UEFA Cup final 2000), carnival initiating (Naija fans of Premiership Clubs) and joy/happiness awakening (Golden Eaglets Vs Spain- Under 17 World Cup 2007)?
If you ask me, I do not have a ready-made answer (is that not why we are here?), but it is the round leather game and it is our beloved sport. Over the years, billions of people have been held spellbound by a football match. Infact, it has become a major avenue for national awakening and source of unparallel pride among the few countries to have been crowned champions of the world. This is football and it is our beloved game.
What about the passionate and ever loyal fans of major football clubs all over the world? From Argentina to Zambia, football clubs represent the aspiration of its fans, city and environment. When a mention of Madrid (a major European City) is made, thoughts immediately dart to Real Madrid, perhaps the most successful football club of all time. What about Milan? A kid once told me that AC Milan is the owner of the city. Enugu is associated with the Antelopes (not the animals of course), Enugu Rangers FC, a once powerful Nigeria football club. The list goes on and on and we might not be able to exhaust it.
That is the power our game wields. It gives identity to some – you hear people say, I am “ a gunner”, “a red devil”, “giallarossi” “bianconneri”, “blue” etc. It internationalizes a city, Milan, Roma, Madrid and wait for this- Barcelona.
Football does the impossible: it unites people!! Nigeria is the perfect example for this and we cannot get enough of it. From the heights of passion borne of success to the valleys of despair due to defeat; we are enslaved with its beauty, theatrics and of course entertainment.
This is what we are here to look at and to enjoy. Welcome to the world of football and welcome to 9jafans.com. After all- it is all about football.
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July 24th, 2008 at 10:38 am
I am not a footballl enthusiast, nor for sports generally. But I sure will visit this site for education purpose and also primarily for social networking.
I just wish to add that our local team / league too should be given prominence, afterall, charity begins at home. Though it is our men that shines in the prominent teams worldwide, a little mite of exposure for the local ones could also go a long way in encouraging them. I remember 10 - 15 years ago that they were popular: Fans would easily reel out their names as obtainable for the Europeans leagues now. Let us bring back that glory as Fashola is trying to do for Lagos.