Back-pass to the fans

By Nkanu Egbe

Football is to Nigeria what sin was to Sodom and Gomorrah: widespread. Football elicits fanaticism. Hence, the appropriate abbreviation of the word fanatics to the word fans. Fans are usually extremely passionate. Imagine fans who would cheer ceaselessly when their favourite team is playing suddenly turning violent when this same team loses or fumbles. Some allow themselves to teeter on the brink of life and may even succumb to something as ominous as a heart attack if the outcome for their favourite team were not so favourable. Certainly not a funny state of affairs as revealed by Rivers State Governor and Chairman, Presidential Task Force on the Super Eagles participation at the 2010 World Cup, Rotimi Amaechi, when he led his team to Aso Rock recently to submit the groups report on the Eagles lack-lustre campaign at the 2010 finals. "The nation has been punished enough," said Amaechi. "People have had heart attacks, people have had all sorts of issues because of Nigerian football. Amaechis irritation obviously explains the action that would come next from the President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan the banning of all international soccer activity by Nigeria until 2012. A lot of people have said: What is he thinking? Others have said: What would FIFA be thinking? It reminds one of Koman Coulibalys decision to disallow the US goal against Slovenia on the excuse of an infringement. Apparently, there was no infringement but Coulibaly ruled so. The US fans had ruled it a harsh decision. Many Nigerian fans would rule Jonathans decision in similar fashion harsh. But it would be rubbish to contest such a madcap action because that would just amount to endorsing government impetuosity. It is the fanaticism of football that makes more meaning. Fan uproar is normally preceded by goal scorer celebration. Check out Rashidi Yekinis prayer of thanksgiving after Nigerias first world cup goal against Bulgaria in the United States in 1994. Or Celestine Babayaros back flips after scoring against Brazil at Atlanta, USA in 1996. Or even Nwankwo Kanus masquerade dance after scoring the golden goal in the same match. Those were some of Nigerias fine moments in scorer celebration. Those are the celebrations fans pay good money to see. Fans? Yes, fans! They are what football is all about. Without fans there is no football. And without football, there are no fans. This is how it works. When a football, sports club or any club, for that matter, (even a political party) is formed members are registered and dues are collected from them. The dues are used to run the club. In the case of a football club, sports kits like jerseys, shorts, boots and other accessories like shin pads and studs are bought. As fortunes grow, the club is able to buy property for training and eventually for competition. Where the club is not able to afford these things, they look for patrons and sponsors to help them out. In some cases, individuals or groups go ahead and form clubs themselves and leverage on goodwill created by successful competition to have fan clubs which ensure that they have support any time matches are played. These fan clubs are organised according to membership and dues are collected as a result. The dues are used to administer the fan clubs clubhouses are built, fan gear are procured and distributed and regular meetings are held.

When fans are part of the composition of the club, directly or indirectly, their passion for the club is limitless. This passion is usually infectious as the bandwagon effect normally leads to increased support. When the club is involved in away matches, the fan club organises to travel with the club. It is the singing and encouragement from the stands that gingers the players to fight to win. The more the outpouring of support, the more the players are encouraged to do battle. When fan support is organised well, local matches draw large numbers. It is for this reason that Stationery Stores (popularly known as Adebajo Babes) would attract crowds of no fewer than 40,000 whenever they played in Lagos. Enugu Rangers (which became known as Rangers International) would on a normal day fill the old Railway Football field at Ogui Road (now known as Nnamdi Azikiwe stadium). Shooting Stars FC (previously WNDC then IICC Shooting Stars) still commands great crowds whenever they play at Ibadan either at the Lekan Salami (formerly Liberty) or Adamasingba. Sadly, over the years, football has been taken away from the fans, first, by the military, then by successive civilian governments which have always made the mistake that they have all solutions to peoples issues including our fanaticism. They took over every clubside that featured in their domain either by outright owner takeover or by task force. Then because they became out of touch with their local clubsides, fans removed themselves from Nigerian football thanks to the Premiership and superlative football from Europe and South America. Over the years, the Nigerian stands have emptied out. Football in Nigeria is no longer attractive to the average fan. Most club owners now only keep clubs which they mine for talents to be sent to the more lucrative leagues abroad. Nigerias football fans do not really owe any allegiance to any club today except the few times the national team gets to play for Nations Cup or World Cup glory. When this is not happening, they shift focus to the more entertaining and successful leagues abroad. The average fan is either for premiership sides - Manchester United, Chelsea or Arsenal. Other football fans talk about Liverpool. Outside the premiership, fans talk about Italian Serie A clubs Inter Milan or AC Milan. From Spanish La Liga Barcelona and Real Madrid. Few talk about the Bundesliga with teams like Bayern Munchen or French Le Ligue with teams like PSG. Nobody talks about Kwara United, Enugu Rangers or Sharks of Port Harcourt any longer. When our Nigerian teams play, very few fill the stands. At best our Nigerian clubs are feeder teams to the Premiership, La Liga, Bundesliga or Le Ligue. Both Nigerian fan and player want to go the European leagues. All because football here no longer belongs to people; it belongs to government and government does not fill the stands. The problem with its management lies in the marketability of the game. Very few understand the details in the running of a club. There is the major team. Some clubs can also have female teams. Then these major teams are fed by feeder teams. Some clubs have full functioning academies to ensure the younger players do not miss out on their education. These players are also taught coaching skills for post retirement. The cost of running these various components of a club is aggregated and creative ways are sought to offset recurrent and capital costs. Because most clubs are registered as friendly societies (football is a friendly game), the clubs do not have to pay taxes. Rather, these clubs pay dues to their local football associations which remit part of these dues to the state and subsequently the national associations. The associations are made up of club owners or club representatives. The make-up of football administration though clearly stems from the foundation the fans. Football administration ensures that the game is marketable. Considerations are made at club and football association levels. Questions are raised, such as: How many fans would be required to fill a stadium? How much would be charged for gate takings? Who bears the cost of advertising? What other promotional efforts would be required? Would there be broadcast feeds? How much would

licencing cost? Who provides the feeds? At what costs? There are, of course, a lot more considerations like player transfer administration and fees. Without working the numbers, football, when well organised, is a great money spinner for club, football association and country. That is why all this hoopla about Nigeria banning itself from international football is a distraction. The right thing, Mr. President Sir, is start a process that returns football power to the fans.

* Nkanu Egbe is a communications consultant and administrator. He lives in Lagos.