street football in africa

In many districts of south America, youths and children gather to live their dream of playing big one day. They often gather for the love of the game, fun and
entertainment, show their skills and go home, in Africa it is different.
Their is a strong sentimental attachment to the club one supports. Be it in the
Premiership, LaLiga, Seria A, etc. Names are given to sets of 4 or more players, who compete with another side to win the game. There is little or no officiating, as only the gravest offenses are cautioned. Interesting aspects of a typical encounter, includes the manner sides are chosen, and players shared or selected.

Sometimes the games go with betting. Each player puts in a small amount of money
to assert that his side shall win. The purse is then handed over to a neutral party. The match as it is commonly called, then starts. Duration varies but is normal to end after every 20 minutes. The victorious side wins the purse, and distributes the money among her players, the holder may also collect a commission!.

African children and youths, even students are not left out of the global fans
syndrome, it is normal to witness loud arguments in street corners, and match
viewing centres between a couple of youths, You'd be surprised to learn that the
topic was some English Premiership related topic. Some possess an incredible
knowledge of football history and can go back with detailed analysis of events in the world of football as far back as you want to know, this is indeed spectacular.

Viewing matches is made easier by several viewing centres that provide the service
for a fee. Youths throng these places to watch live matches from all over the world. The viewing centres are mostly owned and operated by the youths who see an opportunity in the business. These services are made possible with special
Cable/Satellite receiver dishes and decoders mounted on the rooftops.

Some also have earned themselves a name. In most neighborhoods, names such as
E'too, Raul, Walcott etc are rampant. This is both a status thing and an indication that the person concerned is football friendly. The match viewing centres are also dubbed names after known stadia in England etc, San Siro, Goodison Park, Old Trafford.

In the future where things are better placed to favour the civic interest of the youth, one may suggest that such institutions as are responsible for youth development and welfare can consider the task of creating crime free neighborhoods, by encouraging activities that keep youths engaged. Match viewing centres should receive upgrading.Government may also organize mini tournaments, to sustain the drive of these class of indegenes of the society. A happy youth, is one friendly with the society that supports his interests.

The bigger picture may involve Premiership based Clubs bringing their pre season
tours to Africa. When Manchester United visited Nigeria on a 2008 summer pre
season tour, the rave only was enough for local stations to make enough income to
last them several months. The average football youth who witnessed them play
against local teams, were trilled by the opportunity of watching their teams play live!.

More pre season tours should come to Africa, boost footballing in the continent. The Stars of African origin that play in England were the products of street football. What can they do to help?

It stands to reason that the youths of Africa need a better future. In a land plagued by poverty, disease and unsecured livelihood and mismanagement of scarce resources by the authorities, one should look more on to ways to avail himself a better living. By exploiting talents and skills, assuming the opportunity, is created, one can go a long way in making a sustainable living through sports.

International, Regional and Stakeholder groups are strongly invited to look in this
direction, with regard to the efforts at finding a better solution to life for man,in Africa.

prophesying in the loo...

i gathered that sequel to the miraculous qualification of the Nigerian Senior National team, the Super Eagles, for the FIFA 2010 World Cup, holding in South Africa, some persons where already at home with the results, even before the kick off???

How could such things be?, perhaps God has indeed found favour with Nigerians as to reveal to them what is to be. But should we choose to listen to the voice of man, and forsake the faith in our own Eagles?, surely they played hard. So when the man of God? prophesied thus


" i have heard thy cry and plea for favour,
but only in your troubled times do you seek my face,
when you apportion sacrifices onto your tommies, you do not seek me,
and in your times of plenty, you neglect to pay your tithe!
but now you run to me like troubled lambs,
did you seek my opinion when you allocated funds, or did you appoint a chaplain for your eagles?
Aye, i have taken note, of your misdeeds but, i am understanding...

Your petitions i grant, but nay with a price.
Off you then to Joh'burg, and tell them you are from the black waters.
Made black, by your constant supplications, and my shadow from above you.
there u shall confront my burden to you.

But for your youngerlings, i shall deprive that which they deserve.
valliantly shall they strive for victory, but alas they do not get it,
i hold they key, and hence to your visitors i shall make proud,
for they have humbled themselves before me.
for no one flieth without my wings.

they shall toil behind thier opponents, for i the Lord have Spoken"



i was both angry and confused that i asked, can't he ask for better revelation from God? of course nobody answered me. And behold as our eyes glued to the screens, the first part of the prophesy came to pass. We entered into serious prayers to let this cup pass us. But mere mortals are we before the creator.

the Eaglets lost 1 nil to visitors Switzerland, and the prophesy came to pass. God watches football, indeed!...

again in the pitch...

today i was seated at my balcony, eyes still heavy from sleep, overlooking a fairly large expanse of empty land, the morning was still young, and the hens and their chick just emerging from their resting places. Sounds of vehicles on a road, just behind my apartment broke my concentration momentarily, then i saw them....

Jogging in in their multi-coloured apparels, representing different clubs, were the youths of my neighborhood, come to partake in the all weekend fiesta. For these lovers of football, Saturday chores can wait, now is the time to play soccer. Today, Manchester United will be squaring it off with rivals, Liverpool FC. It will be a fight to finish, because as we do it here, so it manifests in the land of angles.

Boots, old and new, bent and weak, all strapped on, jerseys tattered and some good, red tops are allowed with blue bottoms, and was there more than 2 captain bands?, yes i am he!. So we chose sets, or rather 4 man teams to say, and flipped coins to choose sides in our multi capacity pitch, more of sand than grass.

And there goes the kickoff whistle! first gentle passes crisscrossing, then hard tackles. An impressive display of skills and tact, worthy of FIFA inspection, but we have no local clubs to scout for talents. Thus continued the finest display of passion and love, till one side scores or 10 minutes gone. Chelsea and Arsenal was on standby, waiting to slug it out. Few whistles are heard, because only the gravest offenses are cautioned. No off sides, no yellow or red cards, but a determination to win this bout. No side lets off till the final 10minutes whistle, no scores! even the Ronaldos and Messis will beg for mercy playing here to be able to score. The blues now take up position in the pitch, even before the reds realize their time is up. No time!

So the youths of my neighborhood, gather to defend their clubs, all fans and lovers of the round leather game. As brothers they come to our pitch "The Old Trafford" as entertainment blends with passion to go. But one thing borders me.

the goalpost is only 3feet by 1.5feet, length and width!

the philosophy of the game...

What is it in winning and losing a match?
Is it that a side desired to lose of their own free will?
Of course, still giving all their sweat to win.
Until we understand.

Winning and losing is synonymous and disparate,
Because the better side necessarily does not win.
But can win if they win with as much as by 23-0, 8-0,13-0,7-0.
Ze Germans certainly would know what I mean, and perhaps,
Some turbans need be adjusted in Saudi.

It certainly would feel like starting over,
or the center referee was all for them.
He ruled of many offences!, the extra time was not enough!,
The last goal was an offside!
Football is played with passion and desire,
The will and superior play tactics is the edge.

So if a side may lose, better it be with grace.
For though on grass they stand,
Yet up to the heavens their heads carry, and in arms akimbo.
For in losing is yet honor, better play next time.
That God of soccer, is there any of fairness?
Until we understand.

f

its done...

     The Nigerian U17 side "the Eaglets" has lost the bid to make the country the first to host and win the FIFA U17 World Cup. Despite impressive opening which forced the Swiss side in the defensive, they failed to close several opportunities in the first half. Generally the better favoured side to win, Stanley Okoro, Emmanuel and Ajagun severally made near attempts at scoring but failed.

Being the first outing for the Swiss side, they displayed tact and coordination. Left Full Back, 'Rodriguez' and keeper Siegrist were indeed at there best. Seferovic combining with Ben Khalifa opened up the Nigerian defence lines which culminated in the former finding the net at the 63rd minute. They are now proud champions!

A little more coperation was lacking from the eaglets forward runs in the later part off the game, although leaving a lone defender home, was helpful in stopping a few swiss counter attack strides.

We now look up to the Senior Eagles team, 'the super eagles' to compensate for the loss by an impressive outing at the FIFA World Cup, hosting in South Africa.