Posts Tagged ‘England’

Lions Don’t Lose Sleep Over the Opinions of Gazelles, Zebras, and Certainly not Sheep

Wednesday, September 8th, 2021

by B. Austin

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In the UEFA European Championships, these four young men missed penalty shots that would have advanced England’s Men’s Senior National Futbol Team, the Three Lions.  Terrible mistake on their part…horrible…and they deserve criticism.  However, it took a dark and nefarious turn when 100’s of thousands, if not millions on social media, turned to racist banter and hateful speech towards them.  It got ugly.  None of these dudes are over 25 years of age.  They are all TOP players in the world as young men.  But what stood out to me was Bukayo Saka.  He is, or was, a 19 year-old, Nigerian-born superstar (20 years old, as of the release of this article), left back and midfielder for Arsenal, and is 6 years older than my 13 year-old son, who I post way too much on Al Gore’s internet.  The grace, poise, and maturity with which he has handled interviews and the racist trolls on the internet is utterly amazing.  They ALL have handled it with amazing grace, composure, and dignity.  But this dude Saka was a teenager at the time.  All of this lends to my question: What should athletes do in the face of such vitriol?  Is playing for these countries (of birth, youth, or migration) in your best interest, especially when you can trace your lineage to a place that isn’t going to dehumanize, disrespect, or hate you?

Missing a penalty is a terrible thing for a footballer.  It shows a lack of focus and preparation.  However, Pele, Messi, Ronaldo (both of ’em), Ronaldinho, Neymar, Zidane, Henry…hell, many players have missed throughout their careers.  Jordan, Kobe, (Lord knows) Lebron, Steph, Dame Dolla, all have missed free throws.  So we know in the grand scheme of things it has nothing to do with where their careers end up.  These misses will be an anomaly and erased in history, as these players continue their ascension to the pantheon of greats.  And who knows, maybe a seat at the “Table of Gawds” awaits them.  But you know what isn’t an anomaly?  You know what isn’t going anywhere?  You know what will be around 20, 30, 50, 100 years from now?  Racism.  Racist abuse.  Racism in sports.  These young men will face this for the remainder of their careers, whenever they mess up or make a mistake…or…just whenever fans feel like taunting.

 

B. Austin, of War Room Sports
#Futbol #BlackPower #EndRacism #RacisminFutbol #raheemsterling #marcusrashford #JadonSancho #BukayoSaka #Soccer

#FutbolBeenBlack #SoccerBeenBlack #UEFA #europeanchampionship #EURO2020 #FourLions

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The World Cup, Africa, and Why I Wish Serena Would Not Bow

Saturday, June 30th, 2018

by Gus Griffin

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Even as a casual soccer fan, it is hard for me to watch the World Cup, the most popular sporting event worldwide, without wondering what could be for African Nations. Despite African-born or heritage players on many teams, especially European teams, no nation from Africa has ever won the cup. Despite the events’ widely acknowledged greatest player in its History, Brazil’s Pele, being himself of African descent and forecasting that an African nation would win the cup by 2000, none have even made it to the semi-finals.

But why?

Some will cite a structural reason that is clearly biased toward Europe.  There are 54 countries in Africa and yet it is only allocated five slots in the World Cup tournament. Conversely, Europe has 50 countries and gets 13 slots.

Still, others will cite the same ole dog whistle analysis to explain why African countries have not succeeded to the level of its enormous talent and resources; bad governance, undisciplined players…blah, blah, blah. I do not contend that none of those are factors. I actually would agree that bad governance compounds the issue. I only argue that they are not at the root. At the root are the same factors responsible for the continent’s underdevelopment in general and that is the exploitation by foreign interests, especially Europe.

For a point of reference, look at how U.S. baseball pillages Latin American baseball talent…compound that worldwide and that is what you have with European countries and the African soccer players.

To be fair, European countries are not the only culprits. Qatar has recently indulged as well, under the guise of humanitarian motivations with its Aspire Academy, which recruits young African soccer players to their country in their effort to build a World Cup contender.

However, my primary focus is Europe, due to its wider history of exploiting Africa for both human and material resources, and the wealth it accumulated as a result.

SWThat brings us to Serena Williams and the pending Wimbledon Tennis tournament. She has won this tournament seven times, and each time before being crowned is “required” by tradition to do some curtsy to the Queen of England. It strikes me as bowing and I have always had a serious problem with that practice.

The Industrial Revolution would have been impossible without the wealth generated by slave labor. Britain’s major ports, cities, and canals were built on invested slave money. Several banks, to include Barclays, as well the Church of England built their wealth on the slave trade of African free labor. In other words, the ancestors of Serena Williams.

Indeed, as the great scholar Eric Williams illustrates clearly in “Capitalism and Slavery”, you cannot speak of one without speaking of the other.

Please save the tired apologist responses such as, “We cannot rewrite history”. Rewriting history is not the issue. Collecting on the debt is. We validate this right for the decedents and survivors of the Holocaust, as well we should. However, when it comes to African people, we adapt the “let bygones be bygones” approach. This mindset was on blatant display when the British offered to “lend” Nigerian art back to Nigeria…art it stole during the colonial era.

Let that sink in for a moment.

That is like a crackhead carjacking you and then offering to lend you your own car.

I know that Serena refusing to bow to the Queen of England will not address the massive debt owed to African people by England. I just want the issue raised in the consciousness of the world and she would have the platform to do just that.

My thinking on this issue was greatly influenced by a dear friend and mentor who passed away last Saturday. Macheo Shabaka introduced me to the concept of Pan Africanism, which insist that we of African descent, regardless of where we were born, are still Africans, and obliged to act on her and her people’s behalf. If we don’t, who will? Were he still alive, he would agree with me when I say that Serena Williams should not bow to the Queen of England. In fact, the Queen and all of England should bow to her and all of Africa and her peoples.

 

Gus Griffin, for War Room Sports

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MY WORLD CUP IS BACK: The Raw Emotions of the Beautiful Game

Friday, June 20th, 2014

by Nwaji Jibunoh

Nwaji Blog

 

(Image courtesy of SoccerLens.com)

(Image courtesy of SoccerLens.com)

The year was 1982 and among my earliest memories in life. My twin brother and I struggling for space on our father’s lap as he attempted to balance the two of us while he watched the Brazilian squad of that year play possibly some the finest football the world had ever seen. That team consisted of the great Socrates, Zico, and Juninho. Players that mesmerized opponents with the Samba style Jorgo Bonito. Brazil was knocked out that year by a well-disciplined Italian team that would eventually go and win the World Cup, but what they did for me as a toddler was instantly convert me to a worshipper of the sport.

Subsequent tournaments such as Mexico ’86, Italia ’90, USA ’94, France ’98, South Korea/Japan ‘02 brought out the best players the world ever saw. What we also began to see as the years stacked on were the overt corporate commercialization of the sport and the introduction of prima donna global stars that had bigger personalities than the actual tournament itself. By Germany ’06 and South Africa ’10, players were no longer going to the World Cup for the same reasons that generations did before them. It became one big party, an opportunity to showcase to the world pure individualism. The core elements of the game were lacking, and it was starting to turn into pure entertainment. Yes, there was good football, I cannot lie (The ’06 final between France and Italy was quite epic), but something was missing. I did not feel the uncanny attachments and sheer euphoria I used to experience from days gone by.

Fast forward to Brazil 2014 where the beautiful game returns to the spiritual home of football. The games are being hosted in a country that produced the one and only Edson Arantes do Nascimento, better known as Pelé, the Royal Prince of this Sport, a record holding 5-time champions, and a team that combined the musical sensation Samba into the very fabric of their playing style.

We are only in the group stages, and we have already witnessed some of the finest football, ecstasy, and euphoria that this tournament has produced in the last 24 years. I honestly do not know if the game being played in Brazil is the reason for what we are witnessing or if players’ donning the colors of their national team is bringing the sexy back.

So far, we have seen absolutely sensational goals and goal celebrations. Let me quickly point out the Colombians. Every time they score, I honestly do not know what to expect, but their rhythmic Latin American inspired dance moves invigorate my soul each and every time. We are watching the Dutch National Team; La Orange returning to their Johann Cruyff philosophy of Total football by being the team of the tournament so far with comprehensive victories against current holders and two-time Euro champions Spain and a dogged Australian side. The German national team bringing their machinery of efficiency by blowing out a star studded Cristiano Ronaldo led Portuguese team. Then of course, we saw the USA national team beating the Black Stars of Africa Ghana in the game of the tournament so far. The US coming into their own despite heavy hating from individuals like myself, showing that yes indeed they belong here. We saw Lionel Messi finally walking into his own destiny and leading the Argentinian national team to victory. England being England as usual by underachieving each and every tournament, and then there was Mexico holding down the indefectible Brazilian, led by Neymar da Silva Santos in an Iron Clad match where their Goalie Ochoa becomes a cult legend.

My World Cup is back, because the Raw Emotions are back. We are seeing fans in the stadium weeping when their National Anthem is played. We have superstar players literally going bananas when they score goals and are instantly besotted by the enormity of the situation that they find themselves in. We are witnessing the relatively unknowns becoming Gods overnight. We are watching the Beautiful Game!

YES, YES, YES, MY WORLD CUP IS BACK!!!!!

 

Nwaji Jibunoh, International Correspondent for War Room Sports

Located in Lagos, Nigeria, Nwaji Jibunoh is War Room Sports’ International Soccer Contributor.  Nwaji also contributes commentary on U.S. sports from an international perspective.  He’s an Atlanta Falcons fan, Howard University alum, and former tight end for the North Atlanta High School Warriors.

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