This has been a
great year for me as a football fan. First Chipolopolo wins the African Cup of
Nations for the very first time in Gabon. Then this past weekend Chelsea won
the UEFA Champions League for the very first time too. Chelsea had won everything
there was to win the Premier League, Carling cup and the FA Cup. The only
trophy missing in their cabinet before Saturday’s final was the UEFA Champions League
cup which was been considered as the holy grail. It is a trophy that had eluded
the club for close to a decade since it was bought by billionaire owner Roman
Abramovich. On Saturday against Bayern Munich coincidentally in Munich they
were to rectify that error in the history books. While Chelsea and Bayern were
locked in battle on the pitch, fans around the world were religiously glued to
their TV screens. It is this football obsession that has me bothered somewhat.
I am certain
that any bar with a TV screen was filled to the last space available, Chelsea
fans and none fans were all watching the game in anticipation. Then there were
those who were waiting to see if the rumoured prophesy by TB Joshua would come
to fruition. I will not dwell on this because it is a topic for another blog.
Chelsea fans, I included were clad in our replica jersey our symbol of devotion
to the club we have come to love. As the match progressed, I was there
screaming at the television on the errors I spotted, shouting at the referee
for not calling a foul, which players were underperforming and which player
should be substituted. When Bayern Munich scored the first goal my heart sunk
and a sudden cloud of sadness covered me. The hope of grabbing the elusive
title was slowly vanishing. Then within a space of five minutes it was quickly
erased by Drogba’s equaliser which sent me into jubilation and brought back the
sense of belief once again. I continued to cling on to every pass, held my
breath when the penalty was struck and clapped by hands when it was saved. The
penalty shootout brought back a wave of emotions that were reminiscent of
Zambia’s penalty shootout against Ivory Coast in February. My pulse raced as
blood and adrenaline rushed through my veins, heart furiously pounding against
my chest restraining itself from exploding and stomach tied in a nervous knot. It
all culminated into a fantastic release of sheer joy and excitement as I was
hitting up my friends on their mobile that we had finally won. After all the
drama it left me wondering what would happen if this passion was channeled
elsewhere too.
It is indisputable
that football is the number one sport in Zambia. I only started watching
football in my teens simply because I tended to be left out of conversations.
Unlike me there are people who have been football fans from the time Leeds once
ruled the Premier League and Zambia famously defeated Italy at the Olympics in
1988. I wonder the strides that this country would make with the same
commitment shown by football fans, if only it would be transferred to the
different spheres of our lives.
No More Zambian Time Nonsense
People would
always be on time. I can guarantee you that almost every football fan was on
time when the game began. I am certain that they were conscious of time prior
to the match. We called and texted to make sure of the kickoff time. We texted
again just for clarity and constantly looking at the watch. We wanted to see
the first strike of the ball. I long for the day when this time consciousness
would be translated into everyday life instead of explaining our tardiness with
the default phrase of Zambian Time.
When someone says that you should meet at 3 pm it will be 3 pm and not an hour
later.
You Will Know Your Trade
I would not
classify myself as a diehard fan but out there in this country there are
diehard fans. Even when they are not professional football players in their own
right they have studied the beautiful game from years of watching it. They know
the players from way back to the 90s, the classic goals they scored and all
that nitty gritty. You do not dare
start a football argument with them because you will only expose your
ignorance. In the same manner that the game is studied we need it to be
replicated in the fields of engineering, business, education, art and many
other fields. The advancements and
experts that we would have in all these fields would be miles ahead from where
it is currently.
Thou Shall Be Loyal
You definitely
have to admire the loyalty of football fans. It is a literal through thick and
thin, through victories and losses, through trophies and tears. A Liverpool fan
will not change allegiances just because they have lost; there is absolute commitment
that is unshaken. It is something that some of our politicians can definitely
take a leaf out of. There is too much hopping from one political party to the
next scavenging for opportunities and all of a sudden realising that the
policies you once believed in were lies. Maybe when that day comes we will find
true men and women of integrity who stand firm to their beliefs and defend to
the death their conviction to believe it. Zambia needs such men and women who
will not be afraid to take a stance for what is right. Loyal to the core.
Dare To Dream
If there is
one thing that football tends to teach us time and time again, is to dare to
dream. So often the football gods will throw up a David and Goliath story. A
team with all its gladiators and trophies against one with no history to write
about. This was the storyline of Zambia’s AFCON and Chelsea’s wins. Few would
have predicted they would be standing at the pinnacle lifting the trophy.
However, they dared to dream and the dream obliged. Sometimes I feel that some
Zambians are afraid to dream because when they wake up they are faced with
their reality. At times it is important to throw caution to the wind no matter
how ridiculous, outrageous or impossible we should still not stop to dream and
work towards achieving them. It will only take an ounce of courage to dare to
dream and maybe like for many others the dream will oblige to turn into
reality.
Football
will continue to have a loyal following worldwide. It is the beautiful game of
drama, wins, losses, reminders of dreams do come true and almost universal
topic for conversation. My only wish is that the same passion and vigour that
Zambians support football could somehow squeeze its way into different arenas
of our lives. Even if it is just an ounce it will be worth the difference. For
now I will bask in the joy of Chelsea’s maiden win.
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