Political Lessons in Football

I am not an avid fan of football. However, for the sake of peace with friends, I purport to support Arsenal. This gives me the opportunity to have a downcast face whenever Arsenal loses (which is often). I am then able to steer clear of advanced football discussions on which I have not the faintest understanding. My less than enthusiastic interest in football notwithstanding, I still find it to be an exciting game. By observing friends who are die-hard football fans, and reading a bit about the Premier League, I have noted several ways in which our politics could benefit with lessons drawn from football.

Loyalty

I have never seen or heard of an Arsenal supporter shift to Manchester United and vice-versa. This is despite how many games one’s team loses or how much humiliation is administered by haters. Kenyan politics on the other hand, is a different ball game (pun fully intended). The recent nomination process has resulted in an ‘Independent’ movement which is, for all means and purposes, a fully fledged political party. We can greatly improve our politics by maintaining loyalty to our parties in whatever circumstances.

Painstakingly Slow, but Sure, Growth

Arsenal (the club I purport to support), was founded in 1886 by a group of workers making armaments (weapons) in Woolwich. It later turned professional but retained the name Arsenal (which means a collection of weapons). Manchester United (our main rival), was formed in 1878. Most of the clubs in the Premier League are more than a hundred years old. They have developed slowly over the decades to be among the top in the world today. Their clinical and superb moves on the pitch have taken several generations to perfect. If only our political parties lasted long enough to say “KANU” before they are disbanded and merged with other opportunists, we would be far ahead.

Economic Sense

Barclays Bank has been paying about £40 Million per year to sponsor the league. It might be paying less now but the difference (and more) is covered by other sponsors such as Nike. Clubs have been spending an average of about £10 Million per player transfer and collectively using well over £1 Billion in a single season. These football clubs and their sponsors are not just breaking-even; they are minting ridiculously high amounts of money for their shareholders. Unlike our political parties, they don’t have to hold Ksh. 1 Million a plate dinners to raise funds (as we are bound to start seeing soon).

Transparency

The collection of political party nominations ‘sore losers’, wearing white, was quite a sight to behold. They must have surprised their former party leaders who only got to see them on TV asking to be heard because ostensibly, they command some serious votes. Their transfer to the ‘Independent Party of Kenya’ was done secretly. I wish they would have done it the football way and did their transfer to the new ‘party’ transparently. Someone might even have been inspired to donate a few coins to pay for them and their ‘followers’, just like in football.

Foreigners

I listened to a news item some weeks back on the closure of Jubilee nominations in Kiambu. A Luo guy (considered a foreigner in the area) had clinched the nomination for Member of County Assembly in a predominantly Kikuyu area. This was in the news because it is as rare as Halley’s Comet. In the Premier League, almost half of players and managers are foreign. Some of the teams have even been known to field entirely foreign players in certain games. ‘Our’ manager, Arséne Wenger, is actually French while Chelsea’s José Mourinho is Portuguese. No English manager led team has ever won the Premier League. All wins have been by foreigners. Unlike in Kenyan politics, the world of football does not care where you come from as long as you deliver.

Practice Session

Probably the only real practice session for Presidential Candidates this year will be the 18 candidate debate. Any other practice will have to be done on the job. I have also come to realise that we treat football like politics and that is why our teams and leagues are forever struggling. I hope and pray that we change for the better.