Lamentation of a patriot

Patriotism is simply an incurable disease. A patriot may be disappointed several times over by his country and vouch never to support such again, but again and again, he will do.

“Hello Yinka, where are you? Those guys broke my heart, indeed I'm very sad as I am”

“That stupid Musa guy actually displayed his ineptitude today. He doesn't know how to play anything.”

“I don't blame him sha. The sad thing is that Odemwengie and Obafemi will be feeling vindicated now”

"CAF surely have a thing against us, imagine that penalty they awarded Zambia. I know it's because we didn't pay that TV right. Very very ridiculous, 4 million pounds abi how much. Bunch of thieves!

"I pity Keshi too, if he mess up with this competition, he'll ruin the chances of any other local coach managing the Super Eagle"

Those were the words of my friend during a telephone conversation immediately after the Nigeria-Zambia match that ended 1-1.

He did not even give me enough time to respond to his emotional outpour. Realising that he needed a shoulder he could cry on, I just waited patiently at my end of the line.

I felt I should help him out of his mystery, so I tried to cut in ..

“but you shouldn't be that surprised now, you didn't actually expect them to do any better, do you?”

“Noooo, it's not as if I have high hopes on them, but you know something just keep telling me they could surprise me...(murmuring inaudibly as he dragged on his last word) Too bad, Olorun n gbo (hisses) too bad”

I thought of another way to end the call or digress from the topic. “Just go home now and meet your wife she must be angry by now. I'm sure you didn't inform her you'll be staying this late”

“See, this time I'm even more angry than anybody...ehn (pauses...hisses) guy the thing pain me gan ni o”. 

I could sense his anger and disappointment, I envisaged he'll throw tantrum at the slightest opportunity and prayed silently that his wife would be in a better mood than himself.

“I don't see us going out of the group stage 'cos those Ethiopians will beat us” he lamented.

“Isn't that better? At least it'll save us the agony of incessant pain and heartache like the one you are going through now” I suggested.

Then he quickly switch on his patriot alert.

"But who knows we may beat them o, you know if Burkina faso beat Ethiopia and we beat Ethiopia and Zambia draw or lose to Burkina Faso. Anyhow that's mere permutation"

 

The chat went on and on for about 9 minutes until he ran out of credit or network connection failed and I felt relived.

My friend wasn't the only patriotic Nigerian that the Eagles broke his heart. Patriotism is actually a disease!

Most Nigerians, before the start of the competition, were not optimistic of the Eagles putting up any fantastic performance at the Nation's Cup, yet they all trooped out in their millions to watch and support their country. All filled with a secret hope that the Super Eagles will spring a surprise. If wishes were horses, beggars would ride.

I have read on twitter and other forum how bitter Nigerians are at the "almost" performance of the Eagles. Almost will never kill a bird.

 As is usual of us all, we will lament and lament and throw blames, point accusing fingers and vouch never to waste our money seeing the Eagles play again...but as is expected of a patriot we shall all be at various viewing centres to see the Eagles lose to the Ethiopians and continue the lamentation. 

It's Nigeria, that's what we do; we are patriots.