Colourfully-dark, innocently-beautiful, celestially-gifted and gangly-tall with a dazzling smile, TufaceIdibia’s timeless tribute to the original African belle, could have been composed for her; Asisat Lamina Oshoala.
Yes, OshoalaisntMessi or Ronaldo. But she is in the GOAT conversations for female football, plays for perhaps the best female team in the world, Barcelona Femeni (Barca female club) and captains Nigeria’s female national team. Maybe with the exception of Mercy Akide-Udoh, the first true heroine of female football in Africa, Asisat is arguably the greatest African female footballer of all time and simply one of the best in the world. Of course, she has to be, for Barcelona to snap her up from Arsenal. When you are big, you are big. If Ronaldo is angry today and wants to leave bumbling Manchester United, Udoji United in Nigeria, won’t be able to afford him, despite approaching the twilight of his career. Ronaldo is huge, he will retire huge. Same for Asisat, already a deserving national award honouree, unlike some folks who pay to have their names on the scroll after looting the common wealth, blind.
Life should not be sweeter for a 27 year-old. Idolized in native Nigeria, courted by the rest of the world, that worships football. But she says life is cruel and nurturing suicidal thoughts. You say what? But the truth is, only the one with the shoes on, can tell exactly where they pinch. When sympathisers tell you, oh we understand what you are going through, they may mean well, but they aren’t being truthful. Even those with similar experience won’t be able to capture the hurt in your heart. They can only conjure the memories of their pains and try to live briefly through them, to comfort you. Their tears may even be genuine, but only you will feel the pain.
If Oshoala were to be plying her trade in Nigeria, her suicidal tweet about life not being fair and tired of trying, would be completely understandably. Those who would reach out to her on the social media, might even have more pathetic stories, before the miraculous saved the day, even she isn’t opening up on the details of her frustration, despondency and obvious depression.
Except she was pranking the rest of the world, she needs immediate help. It wasn’t April Fool yet and I assume she knows the weight of her utterances now as a global superstar, to try pranking with not-too-subtle death wish. I believe she is truly passing through and her matter requires urgency. Why? One, she lives and works, in a civilized environment. In fact, Europe, with the indoctrination of America, has almost become over-civilized like its Washington colonial master, to the point of replacing the God’s factor, with science and education knowledge. It is one reason I believe God is disempowering the so-called allies and allowing insulting eye-poke from the rest of the hemisphere. After China overturned the economic advantage of America over the rest of the world, Putin’s Russia, is about exposing Washington’s military weaknesses, through the invasion of Ukraine. I predict America is going to be invaded soon and the unbelieving world would just watch with a dropped jaw. After America’s disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan showed that their so-called organizational ability isn’t even that top-notch as assumed, expect a bellyaching foe, to engage in some kamikaze soon. America is always weak under Democrat Presidents. Putin harnessed Crimea when Obama was US President. Paused for a while, while the crazy one, Republican Mr. 45th, was in office, then returned when old Joe, a Democrat took over the Oval Office. There are times when roughnecks who want the good of their people, but avant-garde in approach, are needed in leadership. They are the wereile (in-house mad guys) needed to deescalate external madness.
There is no way Barcelona won’t have in-house psychologists. Most successful European clubs are literal cradle-snatchers. They can sign a prodigious just-weaned toddler. Since, it is all about investment and returns, the environments to grow right and deliver, would always be there. So, for Oshoala to manifest depression in this type of environment, calls for serious concern. Thankfully, NFF excused her from the two-legged female Nations Cup qualifier against Ivory Coast. It would have been disastrous for her to be a part of the winning team from Abidjan, who were locked up at the NnamdiAzikwe International Airport, Abuja, over COVID procedure for three hours, with airport officials still demanding bribe from them! What exactly is going on with this country. Your own went to represent you and returned triumphant, only for you to subject them to mental torture for no fault of theirs, back home. What if same depressing measure was handed them, by the Ivorian officials in Abidjan. AbikeDabiri’s agency would be prancing, seeking sanctions. Why is she not talking now? Are those girls not diasporans? I pity the new oyinbo girl, Ashleigh Plumptre who just chose Nigeria over England. Hope she is not ruing the decision yet. Welcome home, this is how we sadly roll here.
Oshoala’s family should rally round her and not leave matters to the Nigerian State and her officials. The latter see ‘gold’ in every ‘rubble’. Thoughts of estacode would be more paramount in their head, in flying to see her in Spain, than her wellbeing. The Afenifere in public service are too minuscule to be represented by a percentage. It would be 00000.something. The media usually paint the picture of an efficient administrator in AmajuPinnick. This is a litmus test for him. This isn’t football per se, but too football-ralated. Asisat is already a legend in her own right. Though I am against advertised good deeds, but Ahmed Musa is proving to be a stand-out in Nigerian football, just like FunkeAkindeleJenifa, (how much this lady is loved in my home) in the movie world, rescuing colleagues from depressing situations, with cash.
But Asisat isn’t broke. She is just empty inside. Only the salvation of Christ and impartation of the Holy Spirit give real peace and joy. Accomplishments engender happiness, which is emotional in nature. Happiness fades after a while, but joy can be eternal in Christ.
Whatever is eating her up, God will intervene but I sincerely hope it isn’t one funny guy twisting her head, messing with her mind, then ghosting her. He should C-caution. Some of us are interceding for her and it is no joke.
and then