BY AKEEM BUSARI
World famous writer and Nobel Laureate Professor Wole Soyinka has revealed his interest in football and reasons, why he stopped his playing career.
Prof Wole Soyinka is a renowned man of many interesting parts, beyond music and his writing prowess, the literary giant was an almost footballer, as he disclosed in a video interview, how the actions and inactions of his school football team made him realised that he wasn’t cut to excel in the round leather game.
“I remember when I was in Leeds University, I was in the third team. On a lighter note, and I’II tell you when and how I stopped my football career,” he began.
“It was winter and we’re on the field, cold. I used to play left wing. And on this particular day, in this field of mush, slosh and really cold wind, the ball simply didn’t come my way. So, I was freezing.
The multiple awards winning playwright continued; “Now at that time, I’d a jalopy. You know, one of those 25 pounds, which I bought, tinkered with and I used to use that to carry the team. Maybe that’s why they allowed me to be on the team.”
“And so the entire team would climb into this vehicle, I can’t remember what make it was, you know, really ancient vehicle, but we had mechanics who used to help us. And I used to drive this team, ungrateful team to the field.
“And on that day, it was bad; the ball just wasn’t sent to me. Maybe I wasn’t playing well, I don’t know. Halftime, I went into the locker room, as you say, and I looked out at the field, it was still cold. When everybody took back to the field, I went back to the car and drove back to the dormitory. I just abandoned everybody.
“Soccer is not for me. And that’s the end of my football career. But I still took an interest in soccer and used to go to football matches, until soccer became a dance competition.”
He literally shreds his interest in football, saying the game has lost its originality. “It is no longer soccer. It was no longer what I was enjoying about it; which was teamwork, you know, coordinating almost like a choreography display.”
“Ball here, ball there, the dribble, pass, head and the excitements. No. It was like every player was waiting for the moment to score a goal and then to do an honour lap and do a dance routine, and then do a somersault and beat themselves on the chest.
“I would say, wait a minute, who’re you insulting? I’m here to enjoy a game. And all you’re doing, because you scored a goal, which was the work of the entire team. And the dance routine became even more interesting than the soccer itself. So, I stopped going to football matches,” he said conclusively.
