I am not a lover of football but seeing how passionate people are about it and its miraculous deeds; I think I should support a club. I realise football is not just a form of a sport but a bond builder. It is incredible how sport –football– unites people of different origin, race, tribe or religion. The grudges between people get resolved at the mention of either a famous football player or a current football match. How sports lovers argue frantically just to justify who the best player is?
Unavoidably, the world is steeped with divisions and schisms with countries going to war notwithstanding the cataclysmic consequences. People grudgingly hold on their differences without intentions for reconciliations. The world has become a wasteland of zombies hungering and waiting to pounce on each other.
However, football has proven to be a powerful and effective tool in conjuring the spirit of unification amongst men, even in the face of our differences. For instance, the disagreement in 2002 between the northern Muslims of Ivory Coast, and the Southern Christians of Ivory Coast ended in 2006 when the country qualified for 2006 World Cup in Germany. The star player, Didier Drogba; a hugely popular figure in the country, begged both warring parties to embrace peace on national TV. The football team which comprised people from different tribes and religions helped the country end its bloody conflicts.
Moving on, football helps to tackle cultural barriers. The 2022 World Cup consisted of 32 countries around the globe. According to a report, over 2.40 million spectators attended the World Cup.
These spectators were of different religion, education levels and background, tribe, race, and so on. They all put aside these differences as they came together with a common goal– to determine the sports men’s world champion, and what they feel is happiness – an indescribable ecstasy.
The FIFA World Cup, through the power of football, brings people together to cross borders, unite, and celebrate together. The world unites through a global movement to inspire, unite, and develop through football.
A former South African President, the late Nelson Mandela once said, “Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire. It has the power to unite people in a way little else does. It speaks to youths in a language they understand. Sport can create hope where there is only despair.” This quote strongly reiterates the fact that football is an effective tool in bond building.
It is believed that football is arguably the most popular sport. It is popular among children and adults. It can be played by girls or boys. It is a sport played by over 200 million people in over 100 countries and dependencies making it the world’s most popular sport. It can be deduced from the foregoing quote that football is a unique and an important sport that blends people together, both across and within societies. It unites people regardless of tribe, background or race.
