Hooliganism at football viewing centers

In Nigeria today, foreign leagues such as the English premiership, Laliga, Serie A, Champions league and others are witnessing a soaring popularity. Nigerians, most especially the youths are following these leagues with religious devotion. One needs only to visit a football viewing center, particularly when big and rival teams such as Barcelona FC and Real […]

In Nigeria today, foreign leagues such as the English premiership, Laliga, Serie A, Champions league and others are witnessing a soaring popularity. Nigerians, most especially the youths are following these leagues with religious devotion. One needs only to visit a football viewing center, particularly when big and rival teams such as Barcelona FC and Real Madrid FC are playing to confirm this assertion. This new romance between Nigerians and the foreign leagues is not unconnected with the fact that Nigerians are natural football lovers, and since the local football leagues and even the national team have not much to impress, Nigerian football lovers have found a new love in the foreign football clubs who thrill them with their skills of soccer.

Another interesting aspect of this romance is that the football enthusiasts do not limit themselves to viewing and clapping only, they follow up on other issues such as transfer, purchase of players and other related issues concerning their clubs of choice.

Enterprising Nigerian youths are also cashing in on the football fever to earn a legitimate living by setting up television viewing centers where football lovers come to watch matches for a fee.  For instance, in Lapai road, a suburb of Sokoto, football viewing centers are popular sights to behold with bill boards and notifications of match fixtures with dates and time of each match proudly on display for football enthusiasts. Gate fees actually vary from one viewing center to another, depending on the match being shown.

According to Habib Mohammed, a viewing center operator, the venture is fast becoming a booming business. He added, “sometimes, we show between four and five matches during weekends, and by the time we deduct the cost of fuel because the business depends largely on power from generators, we still make a sustainable amount of money at the end of the day.”

Football fanaticism and hooliganism that leads to the ban of viewing centers in some states is also a challenge to the viewing center operators. Some fans after watching their clubs lose to a rival club find it difficult to control their emotions, a situation that sometimes results in loss of lives and properties due to clashes between rival fans.  This problem, according to Habib, prompted the establishment of football viewing centers association in most states. These associations have guidelines of operations that are tailored to checkmate hooliganism.

The romance between Nigerians and the foreign football leagues is at its peak. This should be a challenge to local football clubs and the national team. Football is a thing of national pride in our great country; in addition, there is a huge potential for investment in local leagues considering the number of players and clubs we have perhaps if we reform our local clubs to an acceptable standard, Nigerians might channel some of the love for foreign leagues to the local leagues.

Amiru Adamu is the publisher of Northern Wind Magazine