A nation without a league, how possible?
At this time that Hollywood stars are putting things together to come out with a movie on the Black Stars episode at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil and to show to the rest of the world how ridiculous a set of footballers can behave, i believe it is up to us to correct the wrongs at home to counter such memories.
Advertisement
But reflecting on what is happening now at the home front, it sounds awfully preposterous and funny that a football nation like ours could in a whole year be without a national football league competition in this era of Information and Communications Technology (ICT).
All over the continent of Africa, people have grown to love the game of football to the extent that it has become a fulcrum of their lives and it is as if without football life does not exist.
And as if by the design of providence, African football has weaved the whole continent together under one umbrella, the Confederation of African Football (CAF), that has grown to be affiliated to a wider world body, the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA), with such close connection with its rules and regulations that is constantly improving the game.
FIFA makes hooks up the whole world together for the smooth running of the game for everybody to enjoy. Under CAF and FIFA, the game has been lucrative for the labourer who waters the field up to the talented player in the remotest village in South America, Asia, the Caribbeans, and even deep down the French archipelago of Tahiti.
The game is moving the world, and for that matter every country has her football calendar synchronised with the arrangement of the world body.
It is for this reason that so many countries in Europe, America, Far East and Africa are eagerly engaged in their annual league with their calendar fully being adhered to. Some are even in their 18th week and counting.
Everything is mysteriously murky. Why is everybody afraid to tell the truth and shame the devil? Is FIFA aware of what is happening in this country with all the jungle style of running a national soccer programme, as if there are no rules and regulations governing our game? Even in the event of the current court case coming to a logical end, how are we going to make sure of catching up with the avowed synchronisation? What confusion!
Other Trending Stories
In 1964 when the national football league was smoothly running, we were forced to abridge the programme to enable us participate in the Tokyo Olympic Games with our football team, and that was the first time our football team qualified to take part in the International Olympic Committee (IOC) programme. It was understandable, and everybody was happy. The general captain of the Olympic contingent was the late Aggrey Fynn, the then captain of republicans.
Of course, this is a country so fertile for the development or the promotion of the game, and for the past half century, we have been looked on as the role model in Africa. But at the 57th anniversary of a new nation, how come we should fall back into the abyss of disintegration and disorganisation due to unfortunate legalities and illegalities that must force us all to bow our heads in shame?
The news that last week the select committee on sports of the Parliament of this republic invited the respective parties to the august house, must be reassuring that matters will be cooled down for the commencement of the country’s elite football league. The citizens of this great nation are lovers of football and with the whole sports atmosphere in shambles, something must be done to save our football!