If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude

Maya Angelou

Here’s a thought-provoking question for football/soccer and sports enthusiasts: To what extent do factors such as race, ethnicity, or geographical origin influence the assessment of skill sets and abilities when evaluating individuals in their specialized roles? I encourage you, the audience, to delve into this inquiry, as the upcoming content in this article might be deemed controversial or “politically incorrect” by some. However, it is essential to initiate a conversation regarding these factors in the present-day, characterized by a growing complexity that surpasses common acknowledgment. The article isn’t directed towards any specific group but is designed for audiences across all spectrums who share an appreciation for the beautiful game. It promises valuable lessons and insights that have the potential to reshape our perspectives on both individual and collective belief systems concerning the perception of reality.

For an extended period, there has been a prevailing notion in the realm of sports that black athletes demonstrate remarkable prowess in physical activities such as sprinting and jumping. While this assertion appears to find support in sports like basketball and track athletics, a similar line of reasoning can be extended to white athletes who excel in disciplines like swimming, skiing, golf, ice hockey, and equestrian sports. Football/soccer, rugby, gridiron, tennis, and others can be viewed as arenas where athletes from diverse backgrounds compete on a level playing field, striving for recognition, personal accomplishments, and a lasting legacy. Goalkeeping in football is such a specialized position that it is widely regarded as the most important position on the pitch, and its complexity demands a level of trust from the team and management to the individual that has been assigned to the position. How does trust manifest on the individuals responsibilities? Attributes like shot-stopping skills, agility, reflexes, distribution skillset, judgment, and the ability to read the game in anticipation are the core disciplines that build trust. Ultimately, the most important and unique attribute that a goalkeeper can acquire is a mental state of wellbeing and harmony to fully engage and excel in the craft. This one important attribute is the greatest obstacle that black goalkeepers are finding it extremely difficult to conquer. To investigate the issue posed, it is important to delve deep into subjects that are uncomfortable to discuss, like historical events that have a major impact on the collective consciousness of the black (African) race.

Psychological Healing

Exploring the root cause of a longstanding issue requires a nuanced perspective that acknowledges the psychological impact of slavery and its lingering effects. It would be simplistic or dismissive to overlook the profound role that slavery played and its enduring consequences. While slavery, a manifestation of power exploiting the vulnerable, is not exclusive to black Africans (various races have experienced different forms of slavery by their rulers), the impact has been particularly significant on black Africans, evident in today’s society. Contemporary forms of slavery have transformed into a mental state, wielding significant influence over individuals’ emotions. This influence manifests in various ways, with racism emerging as a potent and preferred tool, especially within a subset of football fans in the sporting world. For decades, FIFA has prioritized strategic campaigns against racism, yet minimal progress, if any, has been made in effectively addressing the problem. This prompts the inquiry: Are FIFA’s current anti-racism initiatives the right approach, or is there a need for a more innovative and robust method to tackle this issue?

Take for example Andre Onana, while he was still at Ajax a few years ago, he disclosed in an intriguing interview he had with a journalist with Onze Mondial with this statement..

At that moment, Andre lacked a complete understanding of the rationale behind the sports director’s message. The director’s remarks went beyond racial considerations, as Andre openly acknowledged that it wasn’t a matter of his skills. Instead, it revolved around whether he possessed the mental fortitude to navigate the inevitable racism in the league. This aspect was crucial, as it could either bolster his character, make him a significant asset, or erode his confidence to the extent that he becomes a liability for the team. It’s important to remember that, from the perspective of any club’s director of football, the primary focus is on the club’s interests when contemplating new signings. The alignment with the club’s objectives takes precedence in their decision-making process. He eventually found out later when he went on to sign for Inter Millan of the harsh reality before he made his dream move to Manchester United. Despite facing a challenging beginning and encountering struggles, he has not received much support on social media during this tough period. Numerous memes circulating online are mocking his run of poor performances, adding to the unfortunate nature of his situation. Only time will tell if he refocus on getting his game together, which hasn’t gone unnoticed since I genuinely had high hopes in him becoming a success at Manchester United.

Another case study is Mike Maignan, the French goalkeeper who plays for AC Millan, who recently walked off the pitch in a Series A game against Udinesse FC.

The game had to be briefly stopped by the referee as his teammates walked off in solidarity and in protest against the alleged racist chants he was receiving from a section of the Udinesse fans. Many will argue that Mike and his teammates did the right thing as I’ve observed from the commentaries of highly influential individuals in the sport, punditry, experts, and the like. Some have gone as far as blaming FIFA President for taking a soft stand on these reoccurring incidents, which doesn’t seem to be “resolved” despite the millions and millions of Euros, Dollars, Pounds or whatever currency of your choice is, have been spent on the war against racism in football (someone is making a ton of money as far as seeking a resolution is concerned..).

To find some sort of credence to the allegations and subsequent actions of the players, the question has to be asked.. what is racism? According to Wikipedia, the terminology Racism is completely different from what players from black or ethnic backgrounds face on the pitch from football fans or the opposition. The so-called racism that players face is a psychological weapon of words, phrases or gestures designed to “breakdown” the subjects’ mental well-being, thereby hindering the subject to maximise their full performance potential in any given moment. This is a form of “tactical advantage play” (in other words, classic baiting) that either the opposition could deploy (rarely happens in today’s game due to obvious reasons) or the 12th Man (the fanatics doing the targeting). In this incident, Mike claimed that the section of fans made “monkey chants” towards him. Now, one has to ask the question, what is the connection between monkey chants and Mike Maignan? If Mike subscribes to the evolution theory of man evolving from monkeys, then is he within his rights to react, or if he doesn’t believe he evolved from monkeys, then what was the point of his protest? Was he showing solidarity to monkeys? In a statement he made back in 2021 to a journalist, he claimed that HE wasn’t the victim racism in a similar incident.. now, who is? The monkeys? I am not siding with the perpetrators here, but in this confused world we currently live in, objective thinking and assessing information has been on a rapid decline, as the herd mentality has taken over, which is being led by blind leaders and influencer of the sport. A classic example of “the blind leading the blind.” Numerous incidents of a similar nature have been encountered by numerous black and other ethnic players from diverse backgrounds. However, the core problem lies in the fact that many individuals are led astray by assumptions and preconceived notions imposed on them, shaping their perceived reality.

Perception of Reality

Addressing the inquiry raised earlier, from a scientific standpoint, black athletes often possess a genetic advantage in terms of running and jumping abilities. It’s important to note, however, that this is not an absolute theory. When I was in my youth days (a long, long time ago) I played basketball, and my ability to effortlessly dunk a basketball despite the fact I was only 6 foot tall, gave me a huge edge in my diving skills in goalkeeping, so I am speaking from experience. Black goalkeepers have the abilities that match or, in some cases, surpassing their counterparts in skillsets, but the ultimate discipline is the holistic mental well-being of the art. There’s a very profound and insightful wisdom in this old English children’s story.. “Sticks and Stones May Break My Bones, But Words Will Never Hurt Me.” What players of ethic backgrounds who experience “tactical advantage play”, be it in the form of racism or discrimination must understand that they are in a unique position to make changes as they see fit, and that’s where the challenges lie. It is one’s response to a situation that determines the outcome, be it favourable or unfavourable. The choice is yours. If one thinks that gestures or name calling that one finds offensive is enough to stop the whole game (drawing polarised attention on you) to make a point of protest is the way forward, then one will have to endure the consequences of their actions, because believe me, it goes downhill from there. Organisations for war against racism will not be in business if they found the solution to eradicate it, and by the way, there is a solution, but the reality is that mental enslavement is a real phenomenon that must be acknowledged on mainstream platforms before the solution can be effectively implemented.

The resolution to the issue is straightforward yet challenging to put into practice: Non-Reaction. A goalkeeper cannot allow their focus to be disrupted by “tactical advantage play” intended to gain an advantage, whether executed by the opposing team or the crowd. This proves to be a significant challenge, particularly for black goalkeepers, given the collective influence of ingrained belief systems. This is where their counterparts excel because they have the advantage of experiencing the lesser form of such tactics. An example that springs to mind is Jordan Pickford, who gets called “dinosaur arms” or “T-Rex” by opposing fans (why they call him that I would never know), he doesn’t stop games in protest about being compared to a dinosaur. He is aware of the “tactical advantage play” being deployed to the point every game he aims to prove them wrong with displaying his best performance every game. We have to label a situation exactly for what it is in order to understand and respond in the appropriate manner instead of having a knee-jerk reaction to situations. The appropriate education is paramount in tackling these issues, and for the two black goalkeepers who play at the highest level of football, it is sad to see that their personal management teams (especially agents/agencies) through the obvious lack of specialised knowledge haven’t dealt with their affairs positively in establishing enduring legacies in their careers.

Conclusion

Black goalkeepers need to recognize the unique opportunity they have to become trailblazers in the evolving landscape of the sport. They can achieve this by challenging prevailing perceptions, discarding limiting beliefs, and taking charge of their own mental narratives. As the late Maya Angelou, the American memoirist, poet, and civil rights activist, aptly expressed, change begins from within.

Hence, a significant responsibility falls on the shoulders of leading black goalkeepers to pave the way for future generations. It is essential for them to understand that they play a pivotal role in reshaping perceptions. Unfortunately, the harsh reality is that if black goalkeepers continue to succumb to provocations or engage in ill-advised protests that disrupt game schedules, they risk alienating themselves and jeopardizing their recognition as top performers with a solid reputation. In the competitive world of football, club owners seek emotionally composed individuals who can contribute positively to the team’s ambitions and reputation. Failing to maintain control over emotions may be perceived as a liability, potentially deterring major clubs from considering them. Whether one agrees with it or not, this scenario resembles a complex game of 5D chess where strategic decisions can have lasting consequences.

Moreover, I suggest a comprehensive re-education on the true nature of racism and a clarification of what it entails and does not entail. Additionally, there is a need to consider recommending mental health specialists or psychologists to delve deeply into the minds of individuals who have undergone past traumatic experiences, leading to the formation of belief systems that are detrimental to their well-being. Trauma, being a potent emotional force, often resides actively in the subconscious mind, influencing behavioral traits, especially when emotions are stirred. The ultimate goal is to foster self-awareness and mindfulness, which are essential tools for maintaining optimal mental well-being. Once individuals achieve this self-awareness, they become less susceptible to distractions such as “tactical advantage play” or provocation, allowing them to sustain unwavering focus.

Finally, the ongoing battle against racism in football is likely to persist as long as FIFA adheres to the same approaches in combating this issue. Numerous figures, including officials, commentators, pundits, former professionals, influencers, fans, audiences, and the media, often propose measures like point deductions for clubs unable to control their fans, life bans for offenders, and club fines. These suggestions have been part of the discourse for decades. However, the fundamental reality remains that people resist the suppression of their freedom of expression. Imposing bans can inadvertently fuel resistance, as human behavior tends to react strongly to perceived restrictions. While opinions may differ on this perspective, it is crucial to recognize that FIFA and the anti-racism factions have a distinct interpretation of racism within the context of football, diverging from the actual definition of the term. This discrepancy further contrasts with what individuals accused of racism are being charged with.

Should every professional player of black or ethnic minority background develop a resilient mindset, refraining from responding to any form of “tactical advantage play” or baiting over a sustained period, I assure you they would enhance their efficiency and value for their respective teams. Importantly, the disruptive noise from perpetrators would gradually diminish as the power behind it weakens and fades away. Regrettably, FIFA and anti-racism factions are unlikely to entertain the belief that such a transformation is possible. They would likely dismiss it as fantasy and persist with the current approach, inadvertently fueling the existing challenges.

You Are The Ultimate Keeper Of Your Destiny

Ultimate Keeper