Soyinka Reveals His Passion For Football

World famous writer and Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, has revealed his interest in football and why he stopped his playing career. 

Prof Wole Soyinka is a renowned man of many interesting parts, beyond music and his writing prowess, the literary giant was an almost footballer, as he disclosed in a video interview, how the actions and inactions of his school football team made him realised that he wasn’t cut to excel in the round leather game.

“I remember when I was in Leeds University, I was in the third team. On a lighter note, and I’II tell you when and how I stopped my football career,” he began.

“It was winter and we’re on the field, cold. I used to play left wing. And on this particular day, in this field of mush, slosh and really cold wind, the ball simply didn’t come my way. So, I was freezing.

The multiple awards winning playwright continued; “Now at that time, I’d a jalopy. You know, one of those 25 pounds, which I  bought, tinkered with and I used to use that to carry the team. Maybe that’s why they allowed me to be on the team.”

“And so the entire team would climb into this vehicle, I can’t remember what make it was, you know, really ancient vehicle, but we had mechanics who used to help us. And I used to drive this team, ungrateful team to the field.

“And on that day, it was bad; the ball just wasn’t sent to me. Maybe I wasn’t playing well, I don’t know. Halftime, I went into the locker room, as you say, and I looked out at the field, it was still cold. When everybody took back to the field, I went back to the car and drove back to the dormitory. I just abandoned everybody.

“Soccer is not for me. And that’s the end of my football career. But I still took an interest in soccer and used to go to football matches, until soccer became a dance competition.”

He literally shreds his interest in football, saying the game has lost its originality. “It is no longer soccer. It was no longer what I was enjoying about it; which was teamwork, you know, coordinating almost like a choreography display.”

“Ball here, ball there, the dribble, pass, head and the excitements. No. It was like every player was waiting for the moment to score a goal and then to do an honour lap and do a dance routine, and then do a somersault and beat themselves on the chest.

“I would say, wait a minute, who’re you insulting? I’m here to enjoy a game. And all you’re doing, because you scored a goal, which was the work of the entire team. And the dance routine became even more interesting than the soccer itself. So, I stopped going to football matches,” he said conclusively.