By Prisca Sam-Duru
For a good number of football lovers across the globe, football is simply about competition, just like every other game. For owners of the clubs or countries whose teams are playing in tournaments, be it local or international, and of course, the players themselves, it is about victory.
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And for the spectators, many simply enjoy the game while those betting for their teams would want nothing less than victory so as to make money.
Not many people are aware that football as a game goes beyond entertainment, scoring of goals, and winning or losing. It has lots of life lessons embedded in it.
Aside having to watch matches daily during tournaments like the world, for many Nigerian homes, Saturday afternoons mean one thing: football on the TV, and a lot of shouting on the screen to go with it.
A trending piece containing life lessons from football by an anonymous writer about how one Lagos-based lawyer learned so much from the game makes a lot of sense. For the lawyer, football also means patience. Perhaps her sudden love for football became too glaring that she was questioned what caused the turnaround. Here is what happened.
“People ask me, ‘Lawyer, why do you talk about football so much?’” she says with a laugh. “Simple. I married a man who loves football.”
So, instead of complaining, she decided to sit down and watch with him. One game turned into many. Before she knew it, she started understanding the offsides, the tactics, and the tension.
Today, football is part of her family’s language. But more than that, the game has become her teacher.
Football lesson in marriage
“The funny thing is that football has taught me lessons I use in marriage and life,” she explains.
Lesson 1: “Every match has two halves.”
She explains that if the first half of your marriage, business, life, or year is not going well, don’t write it off. The second half may surprise you. Remember, comebacks happen.
Lesson 2: “A red card is about self-control.”
A red card is a reminder that lack of self-control can send anyone out of the game on the pitch and at home. Divorce is on the increase, so be careful!
Lesson 3: “Offside is about timing.”
An offside teaches that moving before the right time can cancel a beautiful goal. Timing matters.
Lesson 4: “Penalties are expensive mistakes.”
Penalties are a great reminder that one careless mistake can become very expensive; the other team gets a free shot. One careless decision in life can cost you a lot.
Lesson 5: “VAR (Video Assistant Referee) teaches patience.”
“VAR teaches me not to judge every situation too quickly. Sometimes, you need a second look before reaching a conclusion.”
Lesson 6: “The captain can’t win alone.”
Oh yes! the captain can not win alone. He needs his team members as trophies are earned by the team. A family succeeds when everyone plays their part.
Lesson 7: “The coach can’t score for you.”
The coach can not enter the pitch while the game is on, let alone score. Therefore, parents can advise and draw the tactics, but children must eventually make good decisions themselves.
Lesson 8: “Even strikers miss.” Misses don’t define you. Even the best strikers miss chances. We’ve seen iconic players miss great opportunities to put their teams ahead in crucial tournaments. Failure is not the end. you dust yourself and keep trying.
Lesson 9: “Passing beats ball-hogging.”
A team that keeps passing the ball achieves more than players chasing personal glory. Selfish players are usually spoilers. So, teamwork builds strong families.
Lesson 10: “Never give up in injury time.”
Injury time teaches people never to give up. In fact, an injury time is a good opportunity for a losing team to make a comeback, and we’ve seen some teams do that. Some of life’s biggest miracles happen in the extra minutes. So, keep playing until the final whistle.
The writer concludes thus, “When you see me breaking down a match, I’m not just talking about goals. I’m talking about life. I’m talking about marriage. I’m talking about family. I’m talking about lessons hidden inside 90 minutes,” because “life, like football, is about timing, teamwork, discipline, and the belief that the game isn’t over until it’s over.”
In a country like Nigeria where only football unites the different tribes and ethnic groups, where football unites living rooms, buses, eateries, markets, gaming centres, and barbershops, this game goes beyond the pitch. This lady’s story trending on the internet reflects a larger truth: the sport is more than entertainment. For millions of Nigerians, it’s a classroom.
