When adults are asked to recall the happy days as a child, they talk about many childhood games like playing in the sand, playing games like hopscotch (popularly known as “Suwe”) and many other games as a kid. But none of those games mentioned were fun-filled like football.
At a time like this, football event across the world is suffering standstill due to the global pandemic, COVID-9. The lovers of the game are increasingly worried and weary day by day because of the absence of football actions.
Have you ever thought about how badly the players who partake in the sport would be feeling at this point? That’s it. That’s a great passion that comes with football; nobody wants to be left out of the action.
In Africa, football for every child was a game they enjoyed with so much passion and zeal but ironically, not all of them aspired to become professional footballers but instead, didn’t want to be left out of the excitement that comes with soccer as a young chap.
While growing up, football was so interesting to the extent that children could do awful things to ensure that football is played and enjoyed. A quick example is Senegalese and Liverpool ace, Sadio Mane. He disobeyed his parents when he was told not to travel for a trial in Dakar, Senegal at the age of 15.
Because of his dedication and resilience, Sadio today is a force to reckon with in the football world – Dedication pays. This means that right here in Africa, the kids are willing to go any length to play and enjoy soccer.
Shall we together have some nostalgia feelings as we dwell on some tricks younger African kids used on their parents and the kind of rules implemented on the field of play?
Because of the love for football, a child would love to play football at the end expense of going to hawk but trust the parents, they would not easily give in to the child’s disagreement to hawk with the following tricks:
– Fake headaches
– Runaway from home before the time to hawk wares
– Stay longer at school and come home late
When it’s action time, the rules below are adopted – some of them still exist
The Legendary Balls
The Game is Started with “PEEE”
Because there was never a referee, everyone echoes the word “PEEE” to signal the commencement of the action and with that, football begins!
One of The Teams Would Have to Play Shirtless
The amusing thing about this is that there was never a form of uniformity even with the team that put on a shirt. Different tops and shorts (that’s if there were even shorts to put on). This is just a basic street rule to differentiate between the teams playing
Massive Attack and Massive Defense was the Major Tactics
Due to the dearth of insights about the game, every player on the pitch functions as an attacker and a defender. The individuals left out are the goalkeepers of the two teams.
When The Ball Is Played to a Remote Destination, It’s The Hitter That Goes to get it.
Whoever brought up this rule must be a genius. The rule teaches the players to own up to responsibility and discipline.
The Best Players Cannot Be In Team
What has made these rules to be evergreen is the fact that they were keenly followed by the younger football players back in the days and even till now, the rules still remain?
In for equity and fairness, two or more best players cannot be playing in the same team so as to void bashing that may result into rift between the two teams after the match.
The Fat One Man the Defence
The fat ones were considered to be stronger and a makeshift shield to protect goals, less quick (bad choice to be placed on the front line).
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The Best Players Were Always Selected First ( High 1 & High 2 )
Before the game starts, two of the best players will be called upon to choose their preferred playing side, High 1 will go first then follow by High 2. However, this rule comes with a shade of cheat as both High 1 and High 2 get the liberty to select the good legs and leave out the rest. Making the other incoming sets to settle for crumbs.
A Goal Keeper Can Switch Position
The streets are blessed with talents, such that every one of the players can play any position on the field, be it forward, defense or goalkeeping. So you could be a forward, but asked to be a temporary goalkeeper in case there is a penalty and then come back to your position, or when a certain player is tired and the team needs a change in tactics…
Calling The Owner Of The Ball At His House
No such thing as text or call back then. You want to play football; you go find a ball owner at their home. Now if a ball owner is busy or eating, you all have to wait until he’s done. If he doesn’t feel like coming or his parent doesn’t want him out, and he doesn’t trust any of you enough to lend the ball, football will be suspended. Or better still find another ball to play.
No Offside Rules
It’s when there’s a referee there would be regulations in the game; that’s definitely one of many dynamism of the younger African children as per football.
The dearth of an Offside rule made everything much enjoyed and gave room for floodgates of goals.
The Match Comes To An End When Everyone Gets Tired
Football those years takes longer times to end and it’s only the physically fit players that can see it through to the end. Unless everyone gets tired, the game will not stop.
Regardless of the Scoreline, The Last Team to Score is the winner
This has to be the best and most interesting of the rules. No matter how wider the scoreline maybe, the last scoring team in most cases is the winner because, at that period, most of the players would be looking forward to going home and the two teams on the play will fancy their chances of getting one last goal over each other.
