Truth is bitter, and in most cases very repulsive. Many human beings hate it and would rather listen to and accept that which is not true.
That is one of the reasons people who tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the absolute truth, are despised, misunderstood, unpopular - even hated and branded as "enemies", for a while.
The irony, however, is that it is the truth that is needed for total liberation. I make bold, once again, therefore, to state very unequivocally, that the way forward for Nigerian sports is telling the truth, accepting the truth and doing that which is true. For God to hear and answer our prayers concerning sports, truth must prevail.
God and sports
God? Can we do away with this issue of God and discuss sports? What has God got to do with the speedy and steady pace with which Nigerian sports is heading for the rocks. The answers to these questions are very simple: we cannot do away with God, if we do not want the enemies of Nigerian sports to remain in control of the "opium" binding Nigerians together as a nation. Maybe it is necessary to state once more, as was done in this column last week, that the most essential drawing board we must return to in Nigeria is God.
I believe that common sense demands that sports-loving Nigerians have a time-out, in order to wake up and think very deeply. For instance, I need someone to tell me what else sports writers, analysts and critics should do in order to save Nigerian sports from the horrible systemic decline we are experiencing in this country. What have sports fans and genuine supporters not done and said via the electronic and print media to see scandal, corruption, age-falsification, winning-at-all-cost, voodoism, match-fixing, different forms of sexual immorality, favouritism - the list continues - flushed out of Nigerian sports? Do Nigerians remember the sad event that took place in January, 2008, during the African Nations Cup match between Nigeria and Ghana, when citizen Sunday slumped and gave up the ghost while watching that match? Citizen Sunday could not bear watching Ghana disgrace Nigeria, and he died. This horrible event took place in Adigbe, Abeokuta, Ogun State. What else could a patriot do?
It gets worse
But it is now clear that the more we criticise, the worse matters become in the "glass house" or the Nigerian Sports Commission (NSC), or the Nigerian Premiere League (NPL) or even the states and federal sports ministries. Insensitivity of the highest degree has become the norm in this great country. Those in charge of sports administration, are insufficiently aware of the feelings of sports-loving Nigerians, hence, are unable to respond to them appropriately. When they do react, the reactions are either cosmetic or fake. This is why we cannot afford to forget the prayer points mentioned in this column last week: "Lord, rescue Nigerian sports from the grips of our enemies", "Lord, uproot all enemies of Nigerian Sports from whatever office they may occupy now", "Lord, please let the lost glory of Nigerian sports come back to this great Nation". Only God Almighty can rescue Nigerian sports from the unnecessary quagmire in which we find ourselves.
Sports and religion
Permit me to state once more, that it is the spiritual that controls the physical. Maybe it will be useful to discuss, very briefly, how some football clubs were founded in England. Is it not interesting, albeit intriguing, to know that the origins of some very popular and big clubs in England, were not dominated by financial concerns but by the principles of togetherness, socialism and Christianity? Religious leaders in England around the late 1800 saw football as an important medium of filling the leisure time many workers found at their disposal. These spiritual leaders believed that it would be better for the workers to be physically engaged in the game of football than being idle or indulging in crime.
Everton F.C. is a prime example of this initiative. The original name of Everton F.C. was St. Domingo's, founded by the Methodist Church of England. Liverpool F.C. was birthed after an internal row within Everton and so Everton took to Goodison Park while Liverpool settled down at the Anfield. So many of the major 19th century football clubs were started by the spiritual leaders of England. These include Southampton, Wolves, Blackpool, Bolton Wanderers (known then as Christ Church F.C.), Fulham, Celtic and Manchester City, credited to have been founded by the daughter of a clergyman.
Tottenham Hotspur was formed in 1882, named after the Harry Hotspur character of William Shakespeare's plays, but drew many of their players from the local Young Men Christian Association (YMCA) of England. This is why I said and still maintain that God is a sportsman, who has created everything (including sports) for His own pleasure.
Origin of Manchester United
If Manchester United - the Red Devils, under the spiritual guidance of John Boyers, who is also the national director of Score England, an organisation that provides professional chaplaincy services to sports associations and football clubs in England - can meet with other members of staff of the Old Trafford regularly to praise, worship and pray to God, why can't we do so in Nigeria? Even Maradona had to request for prayers last week before the match against Peru.
South Africa tried God and succeeded. Brazil also did the same and succeeded. The Red Devils seek the face of God. Can we try it in Nigeria?