It is almost August, the month when all hell is let lose, the month when the revered English Premier League kicks off.
You can already feel the engines of the supporters of the various teams revving. Manchester United Fans are already talking tough, they are very convinced this is the season Barcelona’s invincibility will be shattered (dreamers!), someone on the radio, the other day, referred to Chelsea’s new coach as “Youth Corper”. From Abuja to Abuloma, Arsenal fans are apprehensive, they are not sure from which country Arsene Wenger will buy from this time. His antecedent of buying made in China players is well known. Some Nigerian fans called into a radio show (yeah I have mentioned radio twice, Brilla FM has damaged a man’s psyche) saying that they don’t like Arsene’s style anymore, that they are demanding he leaves. A Nigerian living in some village in Abuja demanding that Arsene Wenger, Arsenal FC of London, United Kingdom’s coach, should resign???!!! This fan said it with so much conviction one would think he is a member of the club board, or that he pays some form of dues to the club and wants returns on his investments.
Nigerian football fans crack me to pieces when they display their passion and loyalty towards a British club. They name their kids after football clubs (for example there is gist of the man who named his son “Liverpool” after an English club), they hold Sunday-Sunday Igbo-towns-meeting-like gatherings, where they have constitutions, pay meeting dues, drink beer, chew nkwobi and turkey and throw end of the year parties. They even buy aso ebi, in the colours of their darling clubs. We have seen pictures of goats and cows belonging to these fans wearing jerseys. They even brawl! I just can’t for them again!!!
The painful part is that many of these clubs don’t even know they exist. But then, that doesn’t really concern the fan, all he knows is that come every Saturday or Sunday, his team must win that match else madam at home better go and hide her head if she doesn’t want to be used as cannon fodder.
August is almost upon us, let the noise begin, let the empty bragging get in full swing. All Hail The Nigerian “English Premier League” fan, this one is for you.
...Henry Okelue
follow @4eyedmonk on twitter
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