The Breel  Embolo saga and dearth of sportsmanship

 

Sports, is first and foremost an entertainment before it becomes a competition where losers and winners emerge.

Such winners and losers are expected in the spirit of sportsmanship to enjoy the game or activity for its own sake. Sportsmanship is defined as fair and generous behaviour or treatment of others in this case competitors whether in defeat or victory.

Unfortunately hooliganism, excessive emotionalism and sometimes poor understanding of what sports really stands for has pushed the principle of sportsmanship aside, resulting sometimes to  unwarranted attacks on sportsmen, facilities and officials alike over victories and defeats alike.

Monaco ace and Switzerland international Breel Donald Embolo originally born in Cameroon, has become subject of attack in the last few days. In fact his family house in Cameroon was reportedly attacked by fans, his offence scoring a goal against country of his birth at the ongoing World cup in Qatar.

Switzerland defeated the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon 1-0 in their opening group game with the Monaco striker Embolo scoring the decider.

Since the game, football fans in Cameroon have reportedly continued to attack the player’s families who are based in the country.

Should the attack be attributed to ignorance, excessive emotionalism or simply wickedness?

Every player on the pitch has a role to play. Should he have allowed begging chance to score pass so as not to offend country of his birth?

If so will the coach be justified to have him on the pitch, whose interest?

The 25 year old who joined Monaco in July this year for €12 million on a four year deal from Bundesliga side

Mönchengladbach is not the only one playing for other countries they may have adopted along the line.

In fact there are legion of players of African descent plying their trade in other countries and winning laurels for them. The solution would not be to attack such players but to woo them and encourage them to play for their country of origin especially during their formative stage when they deserve every encouragement.

Where such  encouragement are lacking, and they struggle to navigate their way to build a career for themselves they have every right to choose where to situate their allegiance, and when they shine for such adopted country, it behooves on all to accept the outcome in the spirit of sportsmanship.

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Embolo, who  in 2014, became a naturalised Swiss national and made his professional debut for Swiss Super League club FC Basel that year, did not even celebrate after scoring against Indomitable Lions of Cameroon and that is respectful enough.

It is like saying “I love you I believe in you and respect you as my country of birth, but I have a job to do and I have to do it because we need to advance to the knockout stage”

Don’t forget he created the Embolo Foundation to support refugee children in Switzerland and disadvantaged youth in his birth country of Cameroon at the age of 18. If he did not have the love of Cameroon in heart will he be doing that?

Embolo is a player that has his job cut out for him and has to do it and I bet he is also praying for Cameroon to advance to the knockout stage despite the loss to Switzerland.

In fact whether both countries qualify for the next round or not will become clearer when tomorrow when Cameroon face Serbia and Switzerland battle Brazil.

This game is meant to be enjoyed and everyone should imbibe the ability to be magnanimous and victory and gracious in defeat.

 

Sunday Sportainment