Attitudes to be kept in mind with watching soccer in Nigeria

 

 

 

We prepare many things to enjoy the World Cup. Things like delicious food, cheering tools, friends to be with, limitless stamina, mind of loving soccer and patriotism. When we watch soccer together, we are cheering with one accord. But, some accidents always happen even in a delightful festival. Moreover, it is common for the kind of accident in that situation to be ignored rather than in normal situation.

 

 

A suicide bomb terror occurred in Damaturu TV public center, north-east Yobe state in the evening of 18, this month. A taxi having bombs came into the public center right after the game between Brazil and Mexico was broadcasted. 14 casualties were dead and 26 people were injured. Most of the victims caused by the accident were children and young men. This makes me so sad. How sudden is this accident to the people who would wait for the soccer game with excited mind in front of the TV? Nigeria local police regarded this accident had been caused by an organization called Boko Haram.

 

 

A terrorist group, Boko Haram is an Islam extremism organization which was organized in 2001. Boko means ‘western non-Islam education’, and Haram means ‘guilt’. So it means ‘Western education style is a guilt.’. As it can be guessed from its meaning, they have committed crimes targeting christians or people who are educated in western style.

 

 

 

It is the group that commits serious crimes like attacking a public girls’ school and kidnapping 276 middle school students in April, and 11 girls early in May. Just few weeks ago, on 3 of June, they attacked a village in Borno which is located in north east in Nigeria and killed its 400-500 residents. Through this accident, it can be sure that this group is really dangerous. By the way, why did they make a terror to the soccer spectators?

 

 

 

Some of Islamists said the reason is that they regard soccer games including the World Cup as an anti-Islam. They think they don’t need to play soccer complying with the rule made by Jewish or Christians. Also, because they regard not only playing but also watching soccer game as the action destroying Islamic mind, they point out people watching the World Cup outside together as a target of terror. So, it seems really dangerous in Nigeria.

 

 

 

World Cup is an international sports festival for all global citizens, transcending race, religion, philosophy, language and culture. Enjoying the World Cup will get better when people have good cheering cultures and fair playing minds.