A former Secretary to the Oyo State Government, Barrister Sharafadeen Abiodun Alli who was part of top dignitaries that graced this year’s edition of ‘Champion’s Night’ recently held in Ibadan has offered useful tips to football fans on how to put their emotions in check and maintain good manners.
Champions’ Night is an annual event organised by Babatunde Saheed, an Ibadan based sports presenter where football fans adorn the replica shirts of their various clubs with the aim of celebrating football lovers and their choice teams.
Barr Alli, an Arsenal fan, while addressing the gathering described fans as “an important part to the team because they’re the reason why the players, staff, and coaches make money. They give the players confidence, and whoever their favorite team is, they really love that team and that is why there is a difference between loyal fans and bandwagon fans.
“Why are fans so important in soccer? It is because they are the ones that the team plays for, when they turn up at a game, they set the stage for the team, they enhance the feeling of the game and the worth of it. You know that if you’re playing in front of 30 or 40,000 people then you’re doing something important”. He noted
Alli, who has joined the Oyo South Senatorial District to contest ahead of the 2023 general elections, added that showing good manners when attending a football match or watching in a bar or viewing centre is quite important.
He explained that “Why sports fans are so emotional is that studies have shown that sports fans have both psychological and physiological response to what’s happening to their team during and after a game. What’s happening on the field can affect their cortisol and testosterone levels, depending on the outcome of the game.
“We should watch our language and gestures. Obscenities in public are by nature offensive, no matter how free-spirited the atmosphere, we should remember, referees, coaches and players are human too, hence we should avoid being downright nasty or rude if you disagree with a call or play”, said one of the most decorated politicians in Oyo State.
Alli likes reading, playing football and table tennis.
Packaged by Olanrewaju Agiri
