Like Manchester United, Like Nigeria; Like Mourinho, Like Buhari

By Emmanuel Adigwe Nwadibia
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For many of us who may not be lovers of the round leather game, it may sound a little bit awkward for any sane person to try to make a semblance of a football club and a country or even a 74 - year -old northerner, to a 53-year- old Portuguese tactician. However, whichever way we may want to see it, there are many similarities between both and I will try my best in subsequent paragraphs to reveal them to you.

During the era of former president Good luck Jonathan, many described his stewardship as bovine and clueless. Nigerians said many uncharitable and people wrote many unprintable things against his administration. It was not surprising that he was voted out of office in the 2015 general elections.

It is pertinent to note that Nigerians blamed Jonathan as at that time for all her woes. Former APC spokesperson and Present Minister of information, Lai Mohammed puts it succinctly: “The buck stops at the table of the president”. So, if Boko Haram kills innocent children, blame Jonathan. There is a marital problem between a man and his wife. Jonathan is also responsible.

This was quite an ordeal as even state governors who were not performing were also attributing their deficiencies to Jonathan. It was not too surprising that as a result of this hypochondria affection that has simmered for long against him, he lost the “good luck” that has always glued to his personality. As it was with Jonathan, so it was with Louis Van Gaal, Manchester United’s former trainer. He was blamed for everything that went wrong with the team.

Some joked that the team were no longer trying to play football anymore but were trying to have a B.sc degree in philosophy. The team under Louis was a shadow of its former self. It was expected that Louis will clean the Augean filth and restore the club to her glory days both in the champion’s league and in the domestic league due to his impressive C.V.

However, things never went smooth for the Dutch tactician. Manchester United under his reign tottered in tatters. It was a struggle to win matches. The attacking flair which many knew the club with was lacking. The play was boring. What else? The fans were usually shouting “attack attack” in the course of the match or shouting a specific formation to be used as it appears the one he is using seems not to be working.

It was as a result of this “tasteless football” that Louis Van Gaal was shown the exit door. This led to the emergence of Jose Mourinho, the special one. It is interesting to know that while Manchester united fans disliked him during his stay at Chelsea, as the Blues boss, their hatred for him turned to likeness and praise immediately he was confirmed as the coach of the red Devils.

However, few matches have been played so far and Manchester United has been on a losing streak. They are still not yet a semblance of the Sir Alex’s team. Tempers are now beginning to rise. Some fans are now beginning to question the judgment of the club hierarchy to hire Mourinho in the first place. Experience football analysts have emerged from bust stops, park, restaurants and beer parlor to air their views on how to use Paul Pogba. They think that Jose Mourinho may have lost touch of modern football as his tactics are becoming below standard. Some are even wishing for a return of Louis Van Gaal if it were possible.

This is exactly the case President Buhari finds himself. Yes, he and Jose Mourinho share the same pressure – the pressure to perform. When Jonathan was ejected from the Aso Villa and Buhari declared the winner of the election, many people jubilated and basked in the euphoria that a President Buhari administration will bring calm and normalcy to the system. The president was known for his “body

language”. Nigerians believed they have found their messiah. Just like Manchester United thought that they have found a perfect replacement for Sir Alex Ferguson by appointing Mourinho. But after some couple of years down the lane of the administration, the same set of persons are now beginning to compare between a Jonathan administration and this present administration.

Also, just like the fans of Manchester United who are now “better of” in coaching than Mourinho, so has every Nigerian in the bus stop, in mechanic parks, in the church or even in the Mosque appears to become a sound economic analyst. Yes, everyone has an idea. “Inject some money into the system”, “Declare a state of emergency on the economy” “Sack the finance minister and the governor of the central bank and invite Prof. Soludo and others to help us”. This and many others theory have been given as the solution to the recession which afflicts the country.

No doubt, President Buhari has a proven record as a military officer. He accomplished many things and according to reports, he is not corrupt. So also his Mourinho, his CV is quite impressive; his antecedents at Porto and Inter Milan where he took the prized Champions League trophy is there for all to see. But society always forces us to always think of the present. As it is said in our local parlance: “I get am before, no be property”.

And if we are to look t it in other angle, Nigeria is a very rich country. It was one of our leaders who said that Nigeria’s problem is not about money but how to spend it. So too, Manchester United. There problem is not money but on who to spend it on. This explains the extortionate amount of money used in purchasing players like: Di Maria, Paul Pogba and others who most times do not live up to expectations particularly as regarding their price tags.

Mourinho or Buhari may say that it is too early to judge their stewardship. But, in the eyes of the society there is no time. They must have known that the heat in the kitchen should be too hot before they think of coming into it in the first place. It becomes necessary that each of them paddle their own canoe and lead club (for Mourinho) country (Buhari) to the Eldorado they promised they will take it to. It is entirely up to them to do so. Mourinho can no more continue to sit in the sidelines and blame the referee, the linesmen, poor concentration of the players, not knowing the tactics of the opposition as excuses. Neither can Buhari continue shouting Jonathan and PDP as the cause of his inability to deliver on his campaign promises. Those excuses are no longer unattainable.

In the end of it all, the one question that on will like to ask is: will Manchester United shine again under Jose Mourinho and will Buhari Lead Nigeria to a more better and prosperous country that every Nigerian will be proud of?

Adigwe Emmanuel from Lagos.
07032527825(SMS only)

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