Football, a game with many origins and nomenclatures, has fought many battles, won them and dominates the entire sports world. Unique and universal, no single nation can claim to be the pioneer of football.
Unlike most other human endeavours that usually have their origins linked solely to either the Greeks or the Romans, documented history shows how football originated from shore. In this regard, soccer (another name for football), has a place in Chinese history where it was formerly called tsu’chu around 2nd and 3rd century. The Japanese called it kemari, the Greeks called it episkyros while the Romans called it harpastum. Egypt is not left out as it also documented how its own version of football originated from its land.
I have wondered severally why the Greeks and Romans have always been credited as the originators of almost every good thing on the surface of the earth, whether it is science, philosophy, art of writing and a host of others. But the fact is that some aspects of human practices had been in place in other parts of the world but unnoticed by the writers of history.
Through archeological work, different materials have been excavated in different parts of the world whose origins have been credited to these Greeks and Romans. But interestingly, football belongs to everybody and to nobody.
About 1900 years ago, when what is today known as football started, no one could have foreseen the unprecedented popularity and enormous followership it commands today. It has become a household name every living being is somehow connected with football. If you are not a player you are a fan. You can as well be an analyst. Outside these, you will be a critic of the craziness associated with the games followers and followership.
Football is not just a game. It has continue to contribute positively to the welfare of humanity. Unlike politics that people have tagged a dirty game, forgetting that it is an abstract entity, football is a very clean game only some of its actors make it dirty.
The meaningful contribution football to humanity cannot be over-emphasized. Globally, football is an important employer of labour with more than a commensurate pay. You can be a footballer, a coach, an analyst, a writer, a player or coach’s agent. What about football officials? They are almost numberless. The regulatory bodies at local and international levels absorb huge number of employees.
A sport official in Bayero University, Kano, Mr. Salaudeen said football had come to stay as it has come into the business mainstream, “generating income from sponsorships, television and merchandising rights, production of kits and other sporting wears.”
As seen at the recently concluded Nigerian Universities Games (NUGA) attended by several contingents and held at Bayero University Kano, the event was an opportunity to create life time friendships, learn about each other’s culture.
A Mass Communication student in 400-Level, Jamilu Nasir, 26, opined that he so much loves playing football and had always dreamed to be in the shoes of the likes of Ronaldo, Messi and so on.
Today, people now pay fees at viewing centres to watch international football matches. Those viewers also buy drinks, eat delicacies like suya while enjoying the game.
Interestingly, the internet has made it possible for people to make money from betting on games. The beautiful round leather game will definitely continue to be part man’s existence till eternity.
►Bello John, Department of Mass Communication, Bayero University, Kano.