Should we all be Arsenal fans?

By Zaid Ibn Isah 

‘We all are big believers in the notion that as a species we are better together than we are apart, that the common core of our shared humanity is stronger than that which seeks to marginalize us… and turn us against each other’’ – J. Micheal Straczynski

Football is unarguably the world’s most popular competitive sport; fans of the game are numerous and tend to cut across all spheres of life – be it race, gender, age, social status and religious belief. In Nigeria, the youthful and the elderly have varying levels of intense passion for football, and the country’s national teams have made its citizens proud through memorable achievements in international competitions. The Atlanta ’96 victory against Brazil and Argentina led Nigeria to clinch the gold medal and remains a glorious feat in our sporting history. What has happened to the Super Eagles in the two decades after that year is a story for another day.

Nigeria has produced superstars like Kanu Nwankwo, Jay Jay Okocha (so good that they named him twice), Daniel Amokachi, Yekini Rashidi, Vincent Enyeama, Finidi George, Mikel Obi and the likes of them. These legendary players have not only flown the country’s flag on the world stage, but have also written their names on eternal sands of time.

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Apart from their support for the country’s national team during friendly matches and football tournaments, Nigerians have their preferred football clubs. Some Nigerians have become fanatical followers of foreign football clubs like Chelsea, Barcelona, Manchester United, Real Madrid and so on. It has become such a huge affair that whenever a particular club loses, its supporters become quite emotional. It is quite unfortunate that the country’s local football league does not receive the kind of support foreign clubs enjoy from Nigerians. Just consider the numbers of fans trooping to various viewing centres to pay and watch these European football teams play. It is at the viewing centres that you will see Nigerians as they ought to be. An Igbo man being merry with a Hausa man. Christians bantering and celebrating with Muslims. In fact, nothing apart from our collective woes unites us more than football. The unity is even more palpable whenever the country’s national team is playing. We all unite irrespective of religion, region, and ethnicity to give them the support they need to be victorious.

Most football fans prefer to watch football at the viewing centre even if they can afford to watch it at home. Why? Banter! Banter makes football fun, but it is not so fun when one is at the receiving end of it. Some fans look out for errors in a match just to ridicule opposing fans and stoke heated debates. Your team has to be over and above board for you to have anything close to peace of mind. Arsenal – a popular club in England, has been disappointing their supporters since the club’s famous unbeaten record in the 2003-2004 Premier League season.  Someone said, “Whenever you are looking for patience and endurance and you meet a typical Arsenal fan, there is no need searching further.” These set of fans have experienced moments of pain and heartbreak enough to give up on the club, yet they continue to demonstrate their love and support. In words and deeds, Arsenal fans have proved to be fidus achates [devout followers].

These unshakeable reserves of long-suffering faith that Arsenal fans have in their club even in the face of crushing failures is what we should have for Nigeria. This country has given us so much to be grateful for and to stand by her against disruptive forces is the least one can do. There is no guarantee that the myriad of problems bedeviling the various regions will go away after the country’s breakup. South Sudan seceded from North Sudan in 2011, yet South Sudanese have not had relative peace with attendant political crises and food shortages. Those calling for secession in Nigeria should tarry a while. The unfortunate series of events in South Sudan lend a depth of credence to the saying: Not all that glitters is gold. Now more than ever, we should be united in our resolve for Nigeria to regain her pride of place among the comity of nations. Secession should only be an option for when all others have been exhausted. Ultimately, we are better off together than apart.

For Arsenal fans, a hopeful prayer for better days (or seasons) is the only assurance I can give. One day one day, e go better for una.

 Zayd Ibn Isah is an officer, a law graduate and creative writer. “We Are All Guilty” is his first published book. You can reach him via [email protected].