FOOTBALL AND SPORTS AS VERITABLE TOOL FOR SOCIO-ECONOMIC TRANSFORMATION TO STARDOM BY GTI RESEARCH Visit: www.gti.com.ng The definition of sport usually includes a broad and inclusive spectrum of activities suitable to people of all ages and abilities. By its very nature, sport is about participation, inclusion and citizenship. Sport has a unique power to attract, mobilize and inspire. Its intrinsic values - teamwork, fairness, discipline, respect for the opponent and the rules of the game - can be harnessed in the advancement of solidarity, social cohesion and peaceful coexistence. Sport as a universal language is a empowering women; and combating powerful tool to promote peace, HIV/AIDS, malaria and other tolerance and understanding by diseases. Therefore, any investment in bringing people together across sporting events cannot be easily boundaries, cultures and religions. quantified in terms of its socio- economic end value in a society like It is worthy to note that sport has Nigeria. been linked to the Millennium Development Goals. In the past, sport Currently, investors, private and has been most commonly linked to public, across the globe (Nigeria eradication of poverty and extreme inclusive) are actively yearning for hunger; achieving universal primary opportunities to participate in and education; responding to the reap the rewards of the expanding psychosocial needs of victims of sports industry. Therefore, actors in disasters and emergencies; sport, academia, private sector, non- promoting gender equality and profit and non-governmental 2 organizations, government agencies, Back home, sport (football inclusive) UN agencies and international is a social tool for nationhood organizations, the media, the general building and a symbol of unity. No public as well as young people are wonder Franz Beckenbauer, a former increasingly interested in the German football manager opined potential of sport as a tool to reach that "football is one of the world's personal, community, national and best means of communication. It is international development impartial, apolitical and universal. objectives. They are also interested Football unites people around the in how sport can be used as a tool world every day. Young or old, for addressing some of the players or fans, rich or poor, the challenges that arise from game makes everyone equal. Stirs the humanitarian crises and in conflict imagination, makes the people happy and post-conflict settings. and makes them sad." As sport becomes increasingly part of Sport can be undertaken on an humanitarian and development work, amateur, professional or semi- as well as a part of the corporate professional basis, depending on social responsibility practices of whether participants are incentivized some private sector actors, for participation (usually through interested parties are anxious to payment of a wage or salary). explore the potential, as well as the limitations, of sport in their work. Amateur participation in sport at lower levels is often called In March 2003 a ‘UN Inter-Agency "grassroots sport". Task Force’ published a report, “Sport for Development and Peace: Sport can be differentiated into Towards Achieving the MDGs.” The different categories as provided by report states that “the world of sport the International Olympic Committee presents a natural partnership for the (IOC). The different types of sports UN system” and that well-designed categories are Individual Sports, sport-based initiatives are practical Partner Sports, Team Sports and and cost-effective tools to contribute Extreme Sports. to the achievement of the MDGs. For inquiries, visit www.gti.com.ng or email: [email protected] 3 A major source of emotionally socio-economic status of an charged, shared experiences can be individual or nation and can help found in sports. Leaders from Adolf children learn lifelong skills, empower Hitler to Nelson Mandela have tried women and communities and remove to use success in important sports discrimination. Also, it is an competitions to strengthen national educational tool that fosters identities. Of all sports, football is cognitive development; teaches certainly among the most associated social behaviour; and helps to with national feelings, as illustrated integrate communities. The term by the passionate worldwide socioeconomic refers to the following of international soccer interaction between the social and competitions such as the FIFA World economic habits of a group of Cup. Indeed, the outpouring of people. Socioeconomic links financial patriotic sentiment triggered by a and social issues together. major football win is undeniable – as put by British historian Eric One of the main reasons many Hobsbawm (1990), “the imagined people choose to participate in sport community of millions seems more is to maintain their overall fitness. real as a team of eleven named Participating in sports is an excellent people.” way to help maintain your overall health and wellbeing. One of the People get very excited about sports. reasons that they have become so They are very identifying with the popular in society is overall team they like. They build a kinship entertainment value. with the others who like the same team. This is why sport can be utilized The benefits of active sports to help build a nation. If people in a participation include Exercise which country share a mutual desire for a triggers chemicals in the brain that particular sport or a certain team can make you feel happier and that shared desire can give them relaxed; it strengthens the heart; something similar that makes them gives new connections; improves lung feel that they are in the same part of function; increased confidence, the same nation. reduces stress, improves mental health and builds leaders. Sport has a means of upgrading the For inquiries, visit www.gti.com.ng or email: [email protected] 4 Also, regular physical activity or It is very certain that the life and cardiorespiratory fitness decreases status of some of the athletes that the risk of cardiovascular disease in participated and also won medals in general and coronary heart disease the just concluded Tokyo 2020 mortality in particular. Regular Olympics will be completely physical activity prevents or delays transformed from obscurity to the development of high blood stardom with juicy rewards and pressure, and exercise reduces blood various accolades. pressure in people with hypertension. In the case of Nigeria, the forerunners From the foregoing, harvesting the of Nigerian sports that were exalted abundant sporting talents in a to prominence and fame includes country has a way of boosting the Emmanuel lfeajuna who won a gold national image through winning medal in the High Jump event at the laurels in continental and global 1954 Commonwealth Games, Hogan sports events. It is also a means of ‘Kid’ Bassey who brushed aside stiff social transformation for individual competition from others and became athletes from grass to grace; from the World Featherweight Boxing king poverty to riches as well as from in 1957 and Richard Ihetu, a.k.a. Dick obscurity to fame. Tiger who won the World Middleweight crown and later the On the global stage, some of the World Light Heavyweight crown in the athletes had been propelled to fame late 50s and early 1960s. and acquired stupendous wealth from participating in sports. In recent As we celebrate here some of our times, athletes like Serena Williams, great sportsmen and women who Lionel Messi, Christian Ronaldo, made Nigeria proud with their God- Conor Mcgregor, Lebron James, given talent it is worthy to note that Lewis Hamilton, Mikel Obi, Anthony the list is largely inexhaustible and if Joshua, Odeon Ighalo, etc. to there is one thing that has brought so mention a few are shining examples much joy and global relevance to of the transformative effect of sports Nigeria in its more than 60 years of in their lives. They have also won independence, it is the exceptional laurels and several awards for self performances of these athletes. and country. For inquiries, visit www.gti.com.ng or email: [email protected] 5 Emmanuel Okala, ‘The man mountain’, 94 World Cup after which he retired as he was called, was the tallest as one of the longest-serving goalkeeper to have represented captains of Super Eagles with 60 Nigeria at the big stage. Playing for caps. Keshi recorded some landmark Rangers’ International during his achievements as a coach; including active days, it was said that the qualifying Togo for her maiden FIFA opposing strikers dreaded his World Cup finals in 2006 and led physique between the sticks. He was Nigeria to AFCON victory in 2013 as in goal when Nigeria’s Green Eagles a coach, 19 years after doing the won gold in the football event of same as a player. He passed on in 1973 All Africa Games hosted by Benin City in 2016. Nigeria. Okala holds the record of Nigeria’s first African Footballer of Austin Okocha, fondly called ‘Jay Jay’ the Year. is regarded as the most skillful African player that never won the Africa Olusoji Fasuba proudly remains Footballer of the Year Award despite Africa’s fastest man to date and his his immense contributions to African record set more than 15 years ago football. He, however, won the BBC has not been matched let alone African Footballer of the Year Awards broken. He was part of the Nigerian in 2003 and 2004. Though he came quartet that won bronze in the into the limelight playing for Eintracht 4x100m relay at the 2004 Olympics. Frankfurt. Okocha went on to play for Fasuba later picked silver at the some of the best clubs in Europe 2006 Commonwealth Games. including Fenerbahce, PSG, and then Bolton Wanderers. He was part of the Stephen Keshi, there is hardly any victorious Super Eagles that won the success in Nigerian football history Nations Cup in 1994 and qualified for past or present not linked to the ‘Big the World Cup in the USA.